"Then happy days were crown'd with happier nights, "And some few months roll'd on in full delights. "Soon as the early sun began to rise, "To glad the enlighten'd earth and gild the skies, "I with his first appearance rise, and trace "The woods and hills, the bristled boar to chase. "Then spent with toil to cooler shades retreat, "And seek a refuge from the scorching heat, "Where pleasant vallies breathe a freer air, "There rest my wearied limbs; and lying there, Come, Air, I cry, joy of o'erlabor'd swains, Come and diffuse thyself through all my veins; Breathe on my burning lips, and feverish breast, And reign at large an ever-grateful guest. Glide to my soul, and every vital part, Distil thyself upon my panting heart.' "By chance I other blandishments bestow, "Or destiny decreed it should be so. "As, O thou greatest pleasure of the plains, Thou who assuagest all my raging pains; Thou, who dost Nature's richest sweets excite, • And mak'st me in these desart woods delight: • Breathless and dead without thee should I be, For all the life I have, I draw from thee,' "While this Isung, some one who chanc'd to hear, Thought her a nymph, to whom I made my pray'r, "And told my Procris of her rival, Air. "She, hapless fair, half-dying at the news, "Would now condemn me, now again excuse. “Resolv'd, at last, to trust no busy tongue, "But be herself the witness of her wrong; "When the next day with fatal haste came on, "And I was to my loved diversion gone, "She rose, and sought the solitary shade, "Where, after hunting, I was daily laid; "Close in a thicket undiscern'd she stood, "When I took shelter in the shady wood. "Then stretching on the grass my fainting weight, Come, much-lov'd Air, I cry, oh! come, abate With thy sweet breath this most immoderate heat.' "At this a sudden noise invades my ear, "And rustling boughs shew'd something living there. "I rashly thinking it some savage beast, "Threw my unerring dart with heedless haste, "Which pierc'd, O gods! my Procris through the breast. "She, at the wound, with fearful shrieking fell, "And, I, alas! knew the dear voice too well. "Thither, distracted with my grief, I flew, "To give my dying love a sad adieu. "All bloody was her lately snowy breast, "Her soul was hastening to eternal rest: "When weakly raising up her dying head, "With a faint voice, these few sad words she said." • Draw nearer yet, dear author of my death, Hear my last sighs, and snatch my parting breath. 'But ere I die, by all that's sacred swear, That you will never let my rival, Air, • Profane my bed, or find reception there. And by that love which, dying, I retain, And I shall bless thee for the fatal blow.' "To her sad speech abruptly I replied, "In haste to shew her error ere she died. "Quickly I ran the tragic story o'er, } "Which made her pleased amidst the pangs she bore : |