The Accident. a Pastoral Elegy

From rosy singers Morning shook the dew, From Nature's charms the veil of Night she drew; Reviving colour glow'd with broken light; The varied landscape dawn'd upon the sight; The lark's first song melodious floats on air; And Damon rises, wak'd by Love and Care, Unpens the fold, and o'er the glittering mead, With thoughtful steps, conducts his fleecy breed.

Near, in rude majesty, a mountain stood Projecting far, and brow'd with pendant wood; The foliage, trembling as the breezes blow, Inverted, trembled in a brook below.

The mountain echoed every plaintive strain, The sighing breeze return'd his sighs again, The gliding brook re-murmur'd to his grief, As thus from song the shepherd sought relief:

" When late in rural sports I took my share, " Blithe as the blithest in the crouded fair, " What tho' from ten, contending in the race, " I snatch'd the prize, with yet unrivall'd pace? " What tho', in wrestling, arduous to excell, " I stood the victor, when each rival fell? " What tho', when Colin, oft in combat crown'd, " The cudgel seiz'd, and aw'd the circle round, " I boldly dar'd the champion of the green, " And from his head the trickling blood was seen? " What tho', in softer strife, my rural song " Won the loud plaudit of the listening throng? " Tho' every prize, by every voice, was mine, " And rival hands for me the chaplet twine, " On Robin's shoulders thro' the croud convey'd " Of maids that blush'd, and shepherds that huzza'd; " Vain all my strength, activity and speed, " Vain all my skill to tune the vocal reed, " No joy the chaplet, or the prize could give, " For Phillis frown'd, the nymph for whom I live; " Phillis! whose charms alone my wishes fir'd, " Whose charms, ambition not my own inspir'd; " Who made my feet more swift, my arm more strong, " My heart more dauntless, and more sweet my song. " Love gave me conquest, but denied me bliss, " When from her lips she wip'd the ravish'd kiss; " Cruel and coy she blasted all my pride, " And 'midst the transports of my friends I sigh'd; " Denied her love, I'm poor with all the rest, " Indulg'd with that, of more than all possess'd.

" What giddy caprice rules a woman's mind, " As fate relentless, and as fortune blind! " On vanquish'd Colin Phillis shed her smiles, " And all his sorrows, and his pain beguiles; " She, from the wound I gave, with lenient care " Wash'd the stiff gore, and clipp'd the clotted hair; " The healing simples with soft touch applied, " Own'd and caress'd him spite of female pride, " Mourn'd his disgrace, and now from future harms, " Perhaps she hides him in her circling arms.

" O! had kind heaven to me transferr'd his blow, " O! had I own'd him a superior foe, " Fled from the general hiss, with shame deprest, " To hide my blushes in her downy breast! " To him, with rapture, every prize I'd yield, " And all the tasteless honours of the field, " For each gay trifle with her love o'erpaid, " Blest, tho' forgotten, in the secret shade! " Vain wish! to Colin is that bliss decreed— " Distracting thoughts distracting thoughts succeed— " May swift destruction seize the hated pair, " Or, worse than swift destruction, my despair! " No—may the fruitless curse leave Phillis free, " But doubled, Colin! be fulfill'd in thee."

High on the neighbouring mountain's airy head His browzing goats as happy Colin led, Pronounc'd with hasty rage, he heard his name, And near the brow with still attention came; Too near—the treacherous brink gives way, and lo! He shrieks, and plunges in the brook below; The sounding waters, whitening as they rose, Now with subsiding murmurs round him close.

Damon, alarm'd, his falling rival knew, And, swift as lightning, to his aid he flew; Prevailing virtue triumph'd in his breast, And pity love and enmity supprest; He saw him gasp emerging from the brook, And reach'd, with generous haste, his saving crook, Caught by the drowning wretch with both his hands, And grateful, trembling, on the bank he stands. Short recollection serv'd him, thus to show How much a friend he rose, who fell a foe; " Born to subdue me, and subdued to save, " Thine from this moment is the life you gave; " Here, by the gods who sent thee to my aid, " I swear no more to see thy favourite maid, " By partial favour, not by merit mine, " To thee, more worthy, Phillis I resign; " Go, and my falshood to thy mistress plead, " Go, and may heaven and love thy suit succeed.

Thus soon with ardent looks, with honest pride, And just disdain, the kindling swain replied: ' What Damon's faithful love essay'd in vain, ' He scorns by Colin's broken vows to gain; ' Be thine the maid, since fate ordains it so, ' And time and absence shall allay my woe; ' Friends, from this hour forever, let us live, ' My friendship's pledge, this spotless ewe I give;' " And I, yon kid than falling snow more white," Glad Colin cried, and mutual faith they plight.

Thus busied, Phillis, unperceiv'd, drew near, Foredoom'd, her love now twice renounc'd, to hear; " Take, Damon," thus the blushing maid begins, " The hand, the heart, thy generous virtue wins; " Not Colin's broken vows, but Damon's truth, " Now blends my fate with thine, deserving youth! " To try thee, O! forgive if tried too far, " Was all I meant, whate'er my actions were." Her hand, with sudden rapture, Damon prest, The joyful pair consenting Colin blest; To Damon's cot they take the flowery way, With guiltless mirth to crown the happy day.