Join'd with the laughing loves, in mimic chains

Of roses wreath'd, their willing captive led,
The fair Adonis. Such the queen appears,

So moves, so looks, so smiles. Her virgins knew
Her mind to pleasure turn'd, and light disport.
Now breath'd the flute, and in melodious strains
Soft voices sung the praise of gentle May;
For that kind season now, with all her sweets,

And all her varied tints, the place adorn'd.

The place was such as poets feign'd of old
Hesperian gardens and Elysian scenes.

Here spread the level lawn, here gently flow'd
The silent river: from the brink uprose

The swelling hill thick clad with various trees.
Below, the poplar, and the dark-leav'd alder,
And the pale willow, whose depending boughs,
Mov'd by the sighing breeze, oft lightly sweep,
And sweeping, lightly mark the glassy surface.
But on the summit the majestic oak

Spreads wide his giant arms, the growth of

ages.

Here woods are pil'd on woods, hills over hills
Successive rise. These, sloping, gently sink
Into the vale beneath; while those abrupt
Frown o'er the mountain torrent, that now glides
With rapid course, and now o'er fragments huge
Of broken rocks, by the swift lightning's rage
Disjoin'd, or loosen'd by autumnal rains,

Across its channel thrown, indignant bounds
In foam. Here sunny plains extend, and there
Contracted vallies, dark with pendent woods,
Through which the gale sounds mournful, and the stream
Runs murmuring. Gloomy caves with moss o'ergrown,
The dripping grotto, and the bubbling spring,

Where fairies haunt. Now seen through distant trees

Glitters the rushing cataract. Rude rocks,
Enormous piles, and the vast mountain where

Upon the airy summit, to the foot

Of man impervious, high above the clouds her nest

The eagle builds, and hails the rising sun,

While yet the nether world is wrapp'd in night,

Here close the scene. And here the opening glade

Invites the eye, while under arching boughs
Sudden appear the cheerful haunts of men;

The seats of industry; the cultur'd plain;,
The smoke slow rising from the shelter'd cot;
And farther still the crowded city, whence

A thousand roofs, and glitt'ring domes, reflect
The Sun's meridian beam. The silver lake

Here spreads its lucid bosom, where the sail

Before the breeze scuds lightly; on the banks
Rise fair pavilions; flow'rs of various hues,

And various scents, mix'd with each blooming shrub

To Flora dear, in fair assemblage grow.

Such were the scenes th' enamour'd Locrine gave,

Th' abode of fair Estrildis, and of love.

There in soft ease, and ever-varied sports,

She nourish'd amorous thoughts, and fond desire.

Now sooth'd with airy music, now reclin'd
Upon the flow'ry couch, with roses crown'd,

She sees delighted, on the shaven turf,

The nimble dancers tread their wanton maze.

Now in the gilded vessel, proudly gay

With purple streamers, floats; while from afar,

From various instruments, along the waves

Comes soften'd, stealing on the ravish'd ear,
The propagated harmony. Now swell

The notes distinct and clear; now die away,
As shifts the breeze reflected from the shore.
Thus till the night her sable wings extend,
And the fair moon provoke to mystic rites,
The lovely dame beguiles the ling'ring hours.

END OF THE FIRST BOOK.