POETRY.
425
To the Nymph of P*** Waters.
———καλιϛον ὑδωξ επι γαιαν ἰησιν. Hom.
I.
O Green-stol'd Nymph, whose fount restor'd my fair,
When sickness crop'd the beauties of her face;
Ne'er may the rainy South thy pow'rs impair,
Nay never reptile foul thy stream disgrace.
O Green-stol'd Nymph, whose fount restor'd my fair,
When sickness crop'd the beauties of her face;
Ne'er may the rainy South thy pow'rs impair,
Nay never reptile foul thy stream disgrace.
II.
While on the T——— deep harrowing Winter reigns,
Not the least wrinkle may thy surface know;
And while the north binds E——— in icy chains,
In lapse unfetter'd may thy waters flow.
While on the T——— deep harrowing Winter reigns,
Not the least wrinkle may thy surface know;
And while the north binds E——— in icy chains,
In lapse unfetter'd may thy waters flow.
III.
May Spring's first cowslips on thy borders bloom;
Thy banks first echo to the cuckoo's lay;
First round thee, Fragrance fling each rich perfume;
Thy thickets first exclude the noon-tide ray.
May Spring's first cowslips on thy borders bloom;
Thy banks first echo to the cuckoo's lay;
First round thee, Fragrance fling each rich perfume;
Thy thickets first exclude the noon-tide ray.
IV.
What time blythe August on thy margin plays,
To thee, sweet featured Nymph (so Jove ordains)
Each year bland Health a solemn visit pays,
And, while thy groves are green, with thee remains.
What time blythe August on thy margin plays,
To thee, sweet featured Nymph (so Jove ordains)
Each year bland Health a solemn visit pays,
And, while thy groves are green, with thee remains.
V.
O may no wayward hags, of aspect foul,
Brew their dire potions near thy willowed spring;
Nor melt the waxen semblance, as they howl
Dread orgies to their grimly-smiling king.
O may no wayward hags, of aspect foul,
Brew their dire potions near thy willowed spring;
Nor melt the waxen semblance, as they howl
Dread orgies to their grimly-smiling king.
VI.
But oft when Night has hung with black the sky,
And only Hesper sheds his silent ray,
May dapper Fays around their revels ply,
Till Chanticleer awake the dawn of day.
But oft when Night has hung with black the sky,
And only Hesper sheds his silent ray,
May dapper Fays around their revels ply,
Till Chanticleer awake the dawn of day.
VII.
Oft may their music lonely trav'lers cheer,
And swains belated oft their lights perceive;
Thy rills shall stop their dimply course to hear,
And love-lorn Philomel forget to grieve.
Oft may their music lonely trav'lers cheer,
And swains belated oft their lights perceive;
Thy rills shall stop their dimply course to hear,
And love-lorn Philomel forget to grieve.
VIII.
May gay drest Pleasure wanton on thy plains,
May vast increase thy ploughman's toil repay;
May never clarion fright thy peaceful swains,
Nor battle tear them from their wives away.
May gay drest Pleasure wanton on thy plains,
May vast increase thy ploughman's toil repay;
May never clarion fright thy peaceful swains,
Nor battle tear them from their wives away.
