Cast unconfin'd, and gave him all their charms, Than, Damon, thou; as from the snowy leg, And slender foot, the inverted silk she drew; As the soft touch dissolv'd the virgin zone; And, through the parting robe, the alternate breast, With youth wild-throbbing, on thy lawless gaze In full luxuriance rose. But, desperate youth, How durst thou risk the soul-distracting view, As from her naked limbs, of glowing white, Harmonious swell'd by Nature's finest hand, In folds loose-floating fell the fainter lawn, And fair expos'd she stood--shrunk from herself, With fancy blushing, at the doubtful breeze Alarm'd, and starting like the fearful fawn? Then to the flood she rush'd: the parted flood Its lovely guest with closing waves received, And every beauty softening, every grace Flushing anew, a mellow lustre shed-- As shines the lily through the crystal mild, Or as the rose amid the morning dew, Fresh from Aurora's hand, more sweetly glows. While thus she wanton'd now beneath the wave But ill-concealed, and now with streaming locks, That half-embrac'd her in a humid vail, Rising again, the latent Damon drew Such maddening draughts of beauty to the soul, As for a while o'erwhelm'd his raptur'd thought With luxury too daring. Check'd, at last. By love's respectful modesty, he deem'd The theft profane, if aught profane to love Can e'er be deem'd, and, struggling from the shade, With headlong hurry fled; but first these lines, Trac'd by his ready pencil, on the bank With trembling hand he threw: "Bathe on, my fair, Yet unbeheld save by the sacred eye Of faithful love: I go to guard thy haunt; To keep from thy recess each vagrant foot, And each licentious eye." With wild surprise, As if to marble struck, devoid of sense, A stupid moment motionless she stood: So stands the statue that enchants the world: So bending tries to vail the matchless boast, The mingled beauties of exulting Greece. Recovering, swift she flew to find those robes Which blissful Eden knew not; and, array'd In careless haste, the alarming paper snatch'd. But when her Damon's well known hand she saw Her terrors vanish'd, and a softer train Of mix'd emotions, hard to be describ'd, Her sudden bosom seiz'd: shame void of guilt, The charming blush of innocence, esteem And admiration of her lover's flame, By modesty exalted. Even a sense Of self-approving beauty stole across Her busy thought. At length, a tender calm Hushed by degrees the tumult of her soul, And on the spreading beech, that o'er the stream Incumbent hung, she with the sylvan pen Of rural lovers this confession carv'd, Which soon her Damon kiss'd with weeping joy: "Dear youth! sole judge of what these verses mean, By fortune too much favor'd, but by love,