Page:The Poems of John Dyer (1903).djvu/71

Elated man, forgetful of his charge." 675
"But haste, begin the rites : see purple Eve
Stretches her shadows : all ye Nymphs and Swains !
Hither assemble. Pleas'd with honours due,
Sabrina, guardian of the crystal flood,
Shall bless our cares, when she by moonlight clear 680
Skims o'er the dales, and eyes our sleeping folds ;
Or in hoar caves around Plynlymmon's brow,
Where precious minerals dart their purple gleams,
Among her sisters she reclines ; the lov'd
Vaga, profuse of graces, Ryddol rough, 685
Blithe Ystwith, and Clevedoc, swift of foot ;
And mingles various seeds of flow'rs and herbs,
In the divided torrents, ere they burst
Thro' the dark clouds, and down the mountain roll.
Nor taint-worm shall infect the yeaning herds, 690
Nor penny-grass nor spearwort's pois'nous leaf."
He said : with light fantastic toe the nymphs
Thither assembled, thither every swain ;
And o'er the dimpled stream a thousand flow'rs,
Pale lilies, roses, violets, and pinks, 695
Mix'd with the greens of burnet, mint, and thyme,
And trefoil, sprinkled with their sportive arms.
Such custom holds along th' irriguous vales
From Wreakin's brow to rocky Dolvoryn,
Sabrina's early haunt, ere yet she fled 700
The search of Guendolen, her stepdame proud,
With envious hate enrag'd. The jolly cheer,
Spread on a mossy bank, untouch'd abides
Till cease the rites ; and now the mossy bank
Is gaily circled, and the jolly cheer 705
Dispers'd in copious measure; early fruits,
And those of frugal store, in husk or rind ;
Steep'd grain, and curdled milk with dulcet cream
Soft temper'd, in full merriment they quaff,