SONGS, ODES, AND LYRICAL PIECES.

Now prompted by pity, I truly lament

your

And mourn for fall which I could not prevent;
I languish to think that your blood should defray
The expense of a fall, though so noble a way.

In seas and in battles that you did expire
Was the effect of your valour, not hopeless desire ;
Of the fame you acquired I greedily hear,
And grieve when I think that it cost you so dear.
And when dismal fate did your body convey

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IO

By my window your funeral rites for to pay,

I sigh that your fate I could not reverse,

15

And all my kind wishes I show on your hearse.

THE TEARS OF AMYNTA FOR THE DEATH OF DAMON *

* This song was printed in Dryden's first volume of "Miscellany Poems," published in 1684.

SONG.*

SYLVIA the fair, in the bloom of fifteen

Felt an innocent warmth, as she lay on the green.
She had heard of a pleasure, and something she guest
By the towzing and tumbling and touching her breast:
She saw the men eager, but was at a loss,

What they meant by their sighing and kissing so close;
By their praying and whining,

And clasping and twining,

And panting and wishing,
And sighing and kissing,

And sighing and kissing so close.

Ah! she cried, ah! for a languishing maid
In a country of Christians to die without aid!
Not a Whig, or a Tory, or Trimmer at least,
Or a Protestant parson or Catholic priest,
To instruct a young virgin that is at a loss

What they meant by their sighing and kissing so close;
By their praying and whining, &c.

Cupid in shape of a swain did appear,

He saw the sad wound, and in pity drew near,
Then showed her his arrow, and bid her not fear,
For the pain was no more than a maiden may bear;
When the balm was infused, she was not at a loss
What they meant by their sighing and kissing so close;
By their praying and whining, &c.

A SONG FOR ST. CECILIA'S DAY.†
NOVEMBER 22, 1687.

I

FROM harmony, from heavenly harmony
This universal frame began ;

When Nature underneath a heap

Of jarring atoms lay,

And could not heave her head,

The tuneful voice was heard from high,

Arise, ye more than dead.

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*This song was printed with the name of "A New Song" in Dryden's second volume of "Miscellany Poems," published in 1685.

This ode was composed for the festival of St. Cecilia's day, November 22, 1687, very shortly after the publication of "The Hind and the Panther." It was set to music by Draghi, an Italian composer. St. Cecilia was, according to the legend, a Roman virgin of rank, who embraced Christianity in the reign of Antoninus, and whose virtue and devoutness obtained for her the honour of visits from an angel. She is said to have invented the organ, and she was canonized as the guardian saint of Music. A musical society was formed in London for the celebration of St. Cecilia's day in the year 1683. From that time a festival was annually held on the 22nd of November, in Stationers' Hall, and an ode, composed for the occasion, was sung. In 1684, Oldham had composed the ode.

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Then cold and hot and moist and dry
In order to their stations leap,
And Music's power obey.

From harmony, from heavenly harmony
This universal frame began :

From harmony to harmony

Through all the compass of the notes it ran,
The diapason closing full in Man.

2

What passion cannot Music raise and quell?

When Jubal struck the chorded shell,

His listening brethren stood around,

And, wondering, on their faces fell

To worship that celestial sound:

Less than a god they thought there could not dwell

Within the hollow of that shell,

That spoke so sweetly, and so well.

What passion cannot Music raise and quell?

3

The trumpet's loud clangor

Excites us to arms

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* Tubal, "the father of all such as handle the harp and organ." (Genesis iv. 21.)

A QUIRE of bright beauties in spring did appear,

To choose a May-lady to govern the year;

All the nymphs were in white, and the shepherds in green,
The garland was given, and Phillis was queen;
But Phillis refused it, and sighing did say,

I'll not wear a garland while Pan is away.

2

While Pan and fair Syrinx are fled from our shore,
The Graces are banished, and Love is no more:
The soft god of pleasure that warmed our desires
Has broken his bow, and extinguished his fires,
And vows that himself and his mother will mourn,
Till Pan and fair Syrinx in triumph return.

3

Forbear your addresses, and court us no more,
For we will perform what the Deity swore :
But, if you dare think of deserving our charms,

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Away with your sheephooks, and take to your arms;
Then laurels and myrtles your brows shall adorn,
When Pan and his son and fair Syrinx return.

*Unrooted is Dryden's word in this line, unnecessarily changed into uprooted by all editors following Broughton.

Printed in the fifth volume of the "Miscellany Poems," published after Dryden's death, in 1704, having there the title of "The Lady's Song.' It is printed in the first volume of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham's Works, with the title here given, and it is there said to have been written by Dryden in 1691. The song refers to the exile of James II. and his Queen.