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So, in thy prefence, smoother run

She promis'd (vainly promis'd) to bestow The hours, and brighter fhines the fun. Duncombe. Immortal life, exempt from age and woe. Pope.

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Aureom et amabilem he looks upon as fynony

Ver. 24. The Greek is, yes dinzoingiv, two hundred ages: an age, according to the common computation, is thirty years; thus Mr. Pope understands the word yet in the first book of the Iliad, fpeaking of the age of Neftor, Two generations now had pafs'd away, Wife by his rules, and happy by his fway. Ver. 32. See Idyl. 9. ver. 48. and the note. Ver. 40. At Megara, a city of Achaia, between Athens and the Ifthmus of Corinth, was an an

mous: The Greeks have xgurn Apgedira, and Vir-nual feftival held in the fpring, in memory of gil, Venus aurea,

Aureus hanc vitam in terris Saturnus agebat.

Georg. B. 2: 538. Ver. 21. yw, thus in the Odyssey, B. 5. CaIyplo fays of Ulyffes,

the Athenian hero Diocles, who died in the defence of a certain youth whom he loved: whence there was a contention at his tomb, wherein a garland was given to the youth who gave the sweeteft kifs. Potter's Arch. cb. 20.

IDYLLIUM XIII.

HYLAS.

THE ARGUMENT.

Ir the feverity of critics will not allow this piece the title of a pastoral, yet as the actions of gods and heroes used to be fung by the ancient herdimen, we may venture to affirm that our author intended it as fuch. It contains a relation of the rape of Hylas by the nymphs, when he went to fetch water for Hercules, and the wandering of that hero, and his extreme grief for the loss of him.

Love, gentle Nicias, of celeftial kind,
For us alone, fure never was defign'd;
Nor do the charms of beauty only fway
Our mortal breafts, the beings of a day :
Amphitryon's fon was taught his power to feel,
Though arm'd with iron breaft and heart of fleel,
Who flew the lion fell, lov'd Hylas fair,
Young Hylas graceful with his curling hair.
And, as a fon by fome wife parent taught,
The love of virtue in his breaft he wrought,
By precept, and example was his guide,
A faithful friend, for ever at his side:
Whether the morn return'd from Jove's high hall
On fnow-white fteeds, or noontide mark'd the
wall,

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Of chiefs a valiant band, the flower of Greece,
Had plann'd the emprife of the golden fleece,
In Argo lodg'd they fpread their fwelling fails,
And foon pafs'd Hellefpont with fouthern gales,
10 And fmooth Propontis, where the land appears
Turn'd in ftraight furrows by Cyanean fteers.
With eve they land; fome on the greenfward
fpread

Or night the plaintive chickens warn'd to reft, When careful mothers brood, and flutter o'er the nest:

That, fully form'd and finish'd to his plan,
Time foon might lead him to a perfect man.
But when bold Jafon, with the fons of Greece,
Sail'd the falt feas to gain the golden fleece,
The valiant chiefs from every city came,

Renown'd for virtue, or heroic fame,
With these affembled for the host's relief,
Alcmena's fon, the toil enduring chief,
Firm Argo bore him crofs the yielding tide
With his lov'd friend, young Hylas, at his fide;
Between Cyane's rocky ifles fhe past,
Now fafely fix'd on firm foundations faft,

20

Their hafty meal; fome raise the spacious bed 40
With plants and fhrubs that in the meadows grow,
Sweet-flowering rushes, and cyperus low.
In brazen vafe fair Hylas went to bring
Fresh fountain-water from the crystal spring.
For Hercules, and Telamon his gueft;
One board they spread, affociates at the feast:
Faft by, in lowly dale, a well he found
Befet with plants, and various herbage round,
Cerulean celandine, bright maiden-hair,
And partley green, and bindweed flourish'd there.
Deep in the flood the dance fair Naiads led,
And kept ftrict vigils to the rustic's dread,
Eunica, Malis form'd the feftive ring,
And fair Nychéa, blooming as the fpring:
When to the stream the hapless youth apply'd
His vafe capacious to receive the tide,
H

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60

The Naiads feiz'd his hand with frantic joy,
All were enamour'd of the Grecian boy:
He fell, he funk as from th' ethereal plain
A flaming ftar falls headlong on the main;
The boatswain crys aloud, Unfurl your fails,
And spread the canvafs to the rifing gales.'
In vain the Naiads footh'd the weeping boy,
And trove to lull him in their laps to joy.
But care and grief had mark'd Alcides' brow,
Fierce as a Scythian chief he grafp'd his bow,
And his rough club, which well he could command,
The pride and terror of his red right hand :
On Hylas thrice he call'd with voice profound,
Thrice Hylas heard the unavailing found; 70
From the deep well foft murmurs touch'd his car,
The found feem'd diftant, though the voice was

near.

As when the hungry lion hears a fawn
Diftrefsful bleat on fome far diftant lawn,

Fierce from his covert bolts the favage beaft,
And fpeeds to riot on the ready feaft.
Thus, anxious for the boy, Alcides takes

Hi, weary way through woods and pathlefs brakes;
Ah wretched they that pine away for love!
O'er hills he rang'd and many a devious grove. 80
The bold adventurers blam'd the hero's stay,
While long equipt the ready veffel lay;
With anxious hearts they spread their fails by
night,

And wifh'd his prefence with the morning light:
But he with frantic fpeed regardless stray'd,
Love pierc'd his heart, and all the hero fway'd.
Thus Hylas, honour'd with Alcides' love,
Is number'd with the deities above,
While to Amphitryon's fon the heroes give
This fhameful term, The Argo's fugitive :'
But foon on foot the chief to Colchos canie,
With deeds heroic to redeem his fame.

NOTES ON IDYLLIUM XII.

Theocritus addreffes this Idyllium, as he did the eleventh, to his friend Nicias, a Milesian phyfician.

Ver. I.

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Infuevit pater optimus hoc me, &c.

Ver. 18. Thus Bion,

Ην δ' ανέρος ες μετρον έλθης.
As foon as time fhall lead you up to man.

Ver: 21.

Idyl. 2.
F. F.

Alter erit tum Tiphys et altera quæ vehat Argo
Del os heroas.
Ecl. 4-34-

Ver. 27. The Cyanean ifles, or Symplegades, are two fit all iflands near the entrance of the Euxine, or Bla k Sca, in the mouth of the Straits of Conftantinople over against one another; at fo fmall a diftance, that to a fhip palling by they appear but one; whence the poets fat cied, that they femetimes met, and came together, therefore called them concurrentia faxe Cyanes. Juvenal, Sat. 15, 19. See alio igl. 22 ver. 29.

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Ma. B. 7. S.

Hor. B. 1. Sat. 4. Ver. 14. The Greek is atumimmo; Dr. Spence very juftly obferves that the poets are very inconfiftent in their defcriptions of Aurora, particularly in the colour of her horfes; here they are white, whereas Virgil represents them rose coloured, “rofeisberoes, “ delectos heroas;" fee ver. 21. Aurora quadrigis." . 6. 535. and B. 7. 26. Aurora in rofeis fulgebat lutea bigis." The best critics have ever thought, that confiftency is required in the most unbounded fictions: if I miftake not, Homer is more regular in this, as in all ⚫ther fictions, Efay on the Odyey.

Ver. 21. The Pleiades rife with the fun on the twenty-fecond of April, according to Columella. Ver. 33. The Argonauts were fifty two in nurther: Pindar calls them the flower of failers, Theocritus, the flower of heroes and Virgil, chefn

Ver. 42. The Greek is Baruv gu, which there is great reafon to believe is the carex acutu of Virgil, Frondibus hirfutis, et carice paftus a urâ.

Georg. B. 3.231. On prickly leaves and peinted rushes fed. Wart

Ovid applies the fame epithet to the juncus acutâ cafie janci. The word comes from Bar, an ox, and a to cut; fo called, because the leaves of this plant are fo fharp, that the tongue and lips of oxen who are great lovers of it, are wounded by it. S.e Butemus in Miller.

Ver. 43. The Greek is Kuzun zekideviov.

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And every wood, and every valley wide,'
He fill'd with Hyla's name, the Nymphs eke Hy-
las cride. Faery Queen, B. 3 c. 12.

Xλespov & adiavrov, Capillus Veneris. Ver so. The Greek is, Erns ayeusis; as it Antoninus has given us an explanation of the is dificult to determine what plant Theocritus circumftance of Hyla's name being fo often rehere means, I have rendered it lindweed, or convol-peated, which is fo particularly infifted on by the swar, which feems an exad tranflation of skirevns. Ver. 55. The Greek is. Hra o Negos STUKS TOTN Tikrgandie apocev; instead of TOTH, Pierfon reads

poets: "Hercules," fays he, "having made the
hills and forefts tremble, by calling fo mightily on
the name Hylas: the Nymphs who had fnatched
him away, fearing left the enraged lover fhould at
laft difcover Hylas in their fountain, transformed
him into Echo, which anfwered Hylas to every
call of Hercules."
Warton's Obervations.

which is probably right, being the fame word which Appollonius Rhodius makes ufe of, when treating of the fame fubject. See-b. I. ver. 1234. Αυταρ εγώ ως τα πρώτα ροῳ ἐν καλπιν έρεισε. Ver. 73. This fimile feems to have pleafed AVer. 59 Hylas falling into a well, was faid to pollonius fo well, that writing on the fame fubbe inatched away by the Nymphs. Ovid, fpeak-ject, the Rape of Hylas, he has imitated it twice; ing of Phaton, has fomething very fimilar to this pallage.

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fee bock 1. ver. 1243, &c. Ovid alfo had it in
view;

Tigris ut, auditis diverfâ valle duorum
Extimulata fame mugitibus armentorum, &c.
Met. B. 5. 164.

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IDYLLIUM XIV.

CYNISCA'S LOVE,

THE ARGUMENT,

ACHINES being in love with Cynifea, is defpifed by her, the having placed her affections on Lycus. fchines accidentally meets with his friend Thyonichus, whom he had not feen of a long time, and tells him his lamentable tale, and that he is determined to turn foldier. Thyonichus advifes him to enter into the fervice of Ptolemy Philadelphus, on whom he bestows a fhort but very noble enco

nium.

ESCHINES AND THYONICHUS.
#jebines.

ALL health to good Thyonichus, my friend.
Thyonicbus.

May the fame bleffing ichines attend.

I fee you feljom.-Thy Well, what ails you now?

Afebines.
Afchines.

All is not well with me.- -Thy You therefore grow
So much a floven, fo exceeding thin, [chin.
Your hair untrimm'd, your beard deforms youg

A poor Pythag'rift late I chanc'd to meet, Pale fac'd, like you, and naked were his feet; He came from learned Athens, as he faid, And was in love too-with a loaf of bread. #fcbines.

You jeft but proud Cynifca makes me fad ; Nay, I'm within a hair-breadth raving mad. Thyonicbus.

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Such is your temper, fo perverfe you grow,
You hope all fnooth: but what affects you now?
Æfchines.

I and Cleunicus and the Greek agreed
With Apis fkill'd Theffalian colts to breed,
In my green court, with wine to cheer our fouls:
A fucking pig 1 drefs'd, and brace of fowls:
And fragrant wine produc'd, four funimers old,
Phoenicia's generous wine that makes us bold: 20
Onions and fhell fish laft the table crown'd,
And gaily went the cheering cup around;
Then healths were drank, and each oblig'd to name
The lovely mistress that infpir'd his flame.
Cynifca (he was by) then charm'd my foul,
And to her health I drain'd the foaming bowl:
She pledg'd me not, nor deign'd a kind reply:
Think how my rage, inflam'd with wine, ran
high.

What, are you mute?' I faid-a waggish guest,
Perhaps fhe's feen a Wolf,' rejoin'd in jeft: 30
At this her cheeks to fearlet turn'd apace;
Sure you might light a candle at her face.
Now Wolf is Laba's fon, whom most men call
A comely fpark, is handfome, young, and tall.
For him the figh'd; and this by chance I heard;
Yet took to note, and vainly nurst my beard.
We four, now warm, and mellow with the wine,
Arch Apis, with a mifchievous defign,
Nam'd Wolf, and fung encomiums of the boy,
Which made Cynifca fairly weep for joy,
Like a fond girl, whom love maternal warms,
That longs to wanton in her mother's arms.
I fwell'd with rage, and, in revengeful pique,
My hand discharg'd my paffion on her cheek:
"Since thee," I cry'd, "my love no more en-
"dears,

40

"Go court fome other with those tender tears." She rofe, and gathering in a knot her veft, Flew fwiftly; as the fwallow from her neft,

Beneath the tiling fkims in queft of food,
To fill the clamours of her craving brood.
Thus from her downy couch in eager hafte,
Through the firft door, and through the gate fhe

pafs'd.

Where'er her feet, where'er her fancy led;
The proverb fays, The bull to wood is fled.'
Now twenty days are paft, ten, nine, and eight,
Two and eleven add-two months complete,
Since we lait met, and like the boors of Thrace,
In all that time I never trimm'd my face.
Wolf now enjoys her, is her føle delight:
She, when he calls, unbars the door at night: 60
While I, alas! on no occafion priz'd,
Like the forlorn Megareans am defpis'd.
Oh could I from thele wild defires refrain,
And love her lefs, afl would be well again!
Now like a moufe enfnar'd on pitch I move;
Nor know I any remedy for love.

Yet in love's flames our neighbour Simus burn'd,
Sought eafe by travel, and when cur'd return'd;
I'll fail, turn foldier, and though not the first
In fighting fields I would not prove the worst. 70
Thyonicbus.

May all that's good, whate'er you with, attend
On Æfchines, my favourite and friend.
If you're refolv'd, and failing is your plan.
Serve Ptolemy, he loves a worthy man.
Efchines.

What is his character? Thy. A royal fpirit,
To point out genius, and encourage merit:
The poet's friend, humane, and good, and kind;
Of manners gentle, and of generous mind.
He marks his friend, but more he marks his foe;
His hand is ever ready to bestow:
82
Request with reason, and he'll grant the thing,
And what he gives, he gives it like a king.
Go then, and buckle to your manly breast
The brazen corflet, and the warrior veft;
Go brave and bold, to friendly Egypt go,
Meet in the tented field, the rufhing foc.
Age foon will come, with envious hand to fhed
The fnow of winter on the hoary head,
Will fap the man, and all his vigour drain,
'Tis our's to act while youth and strength re-
main.
90

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furrounded with various apartments; therefore it probably means the inner court.

Ver. 20. The Greek is, Bußaev over, which Athenæus, B. 1. chap. 28. allows to be Phoenician wine.

Ver. 28.

Quid mihi tunc animi credis, germane, fuisse ?
Ovid. Epift. Can. to Macar

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Ver. 55. The literal interpretation is, " And now twenty and eight, and nine, and ten days are paft, to-day is the eleventh, add two more, and there will be two months.' A fimilar but more perplexing method of numeration we meet with in the 17th Idyl. ver. 95.

Ver. 62. The Megareans entertaining a vain conceit that they were the most valiant of the Grecians, inquired of the oracle if any nation ex

Ver. 30 That is, Auxov, Wolf," her sweet-celled them: the conclufion of the answer was,

heart.

-Lupi Marim videre priores.

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Ec. 9.54. On which Dr. Martyn obferves, that a notion obtained among the ancient Italians, that if a wolf faw any man first, it deprived him of his voice for the prefent; but, fays he, Theocritus gives this fory a contrary turn; as if the feeing a wolf, inftead of being feen by him, made a perfon mute.' The doctor, and likewife Mr. Warton, did not obferve our author's double meaning, viz. that As fignified not only a wolf, but was likewife the Dame of Cynifca's lover.

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Ver. 82. To this noble encomium of Ptolemy Ver. 36. Marav eis andra gerar," quod de iis di- by the Sicilian poet, I fhall briefly show the facebatur, quorum conjuges impune cum aliis fole-vourable fide of his character, as it is given by the bant; quique hanc contumeliam leni et pacato animo ferebant." Heinfius.

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Æn. I. 324.

Clofe, in a knot, her flowing robes the drew. Pitt. Ver. 48. Virgil has plainly borrowed this fimile | from our author, though Mr. Warton fays he is obliged to Apollonius for it: it is not improbable but that Virgil's may be the copy of the copier. Nigra velut magnas domini cum divitis ædes Pervolat, et pennis alta atria luftrat hirundo, Pabula parva legens, nidifque loquacibus escas, Et hunc porticibus vacuis, nunc humida circum Stagna fonat. n. B. 12.

hiftorians. He was a prince of great learning, and a zealous promoter and encourager of it in others, an induftrious collector of books, and a generous patron to all thofe who were eminent in any branch of literature. The fame of his generofity drew feven celebrated poets to his court, who, from their number, were called Pleïades: these were Aratus, Theocritus, Callimachus, Lycophron, Apollonius, Nicander, and Philicus. To him we are indebted for the Greek tranflation of the fcripture, called the Septuagint. Notwithftanding his peculiar tafte for the fciences, yet he applied himself with indefatigable industry to bufinefs, fudying all poflible methods to render his fubjects happy, and raise his dominions to a flou473rifhing condition. Athenæus called him the richeft of all the princes of his age; and Appian says, that he was the most magnificent and generous of all kings in laying out his money, so he was of all the moft skilful and induftrious in raifing it. He built an incredible number of cities, and left fo many other public monuments of his magnificence, that all works of an extravagant taste and grandeur, were proverbially called Philadelphian

As the black (wallow, that in queft of prey,
Round the proud palace wings her wanton way,
When for her children the provides the feast,
To fill the clamours of the craving neft;
Now wild excurfions round the cloyster takes;
Now fportive winds, or skims along the lakes.

Pitt.

Virgil has spun this fimile into more than four lines, whereas Theocritus comprehends it in two. Ver. 54. A proverb signifying that he will not

return

works.

Ver. 90.
Dumque virent genus.

Univer. Hift.

Hor. Epod. 13.

Hiüj

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