(91) WINDSOR-FOREST. To the Right Honourable GEORGE Lord LANSDOWN. T HY forests, Windsor! and thy green retreats, At once the Monarch's and the Muse's seats, Invite my lays. Be present, fylvan maids! Unlock your springs, and open all shades. GRANVILLE commands; your aid, O Muses bring! What Muse for GRANVILLE can refuse to sing ? VARIATIONS. Chafte goddess of the woods, REMARKS. This Poem was written at two different times: the first part of it, which relates to the country, in the year 1704, at the same time with the Pastorals : the latter part was not added till the year 1713, in which it was published. P, VER. 6. IMITATIONS. neget quis carmina Gallo ? Virg. 15 The Groves of Eden vanish'd now so long, Live in description, and look green in song: These, were my breast inspir'd with equal flame, Like them in beauty, fhould be like in fame. 10 Here hills and vales, the woodland and the plain, Here earth and water seem to strive again ; Not Chaos-like together crush'd and bruis’d, But, as the world, harmoniously confus’d: Where order in variety we see, And where, tho' all things differ, all agree. Here waving grovęs a chequer'd scene display, And part admit, and part exclude the day; As some coy nymph her lover's warm address Nor quite indulges, nor can quite repress. There, interfpers’d in lawns and op’ning glades, Thin trees arise that fhun each other's shades. Here in full light the rufset plains extend : There wrapt in clouds the blueish hills ascend. Ev’n the wild heath displays her purple dyes, 25. And 'midst the desert fruitful fields arise, 20 VARIATIONS. Why should I sing our better suns or air, 30 That crown'd with tufted trees and springing corn, grace his tow'ring height, Than what more humble mountains offer here, 35 Where, in their blessings, all those Gods appear. See Pan with flocks, with fruits Pomona crown'd; Here blushing Flora paints th’enameld ground, Here Ceres' gifts in waving prospect stand, And nodding tempt the joyful reaper's hand; 40 Rich Industry fits smiling on the plains, And peace and plenty tell, a STUART reigns. REMARKS: VER. 33. Not proud Olympus, etc.] Sir J. Denham, in his Cooper's Hill, had said, Than which a nobler weight no mountain bears, But Atlas only, which supports the spheres. The comparison is childish, as the taking it from fabulous hiftory destroys the compliment. Our Poet has shewn more judgment: he has made a manly use of as fabulous a circumstance. by the artful application of the mythology. Where, in their blessings, all those Gods appear. etca Making the nobility of the hills of Windsor-forest to confift in supporting the inhabitants in plenty. Not thus the land appear'd in ages past, A dreary desert, and a gloomy waste, To favage beasts and savage laws a prey, 45 And kings more furious and severe than they; Who claim'd the skies, dispeopled air and floods, The lonely lords of empty wilds and woods: Cities laid waste, they storm'd the dens and caves, (For wiser brutes were backward to be slaves,) 50 What could be free, when lawless beasts obey'd, And ev’n the elements a Tyrant sway'd? In vain kind seasons swelld the teeming grain, Soft show'rs distillid, and suns grew warm in vain; The fwain with tears his frustrate labour yields, 55 And familh'd dies amidst his ripen'd fields. What wonder then, a beast or subject flain Were equal crimes in a despotic reign? VARIATIONS. VER. 49. Originally thus in the MS. From towns laid waste, to dens and caves they ran (For who first stoop'd to be a Nave was man.) Ver. 57, etc. No wonder savages or subjects flain -- But subjects ftarv’d, while savages were fed. It was originally thus, but the word savages is not properly applied to beasts but to men; which occasioned the alteration. P. REMARKS |