83. Go teach my heart to lose its painful fears. ECLOGUE III. ABRA; OR, THE GEORGIAN SULTANA. SCENE, A forest. TIME, The evening. In Georgia's land, where Tefflis' towers are seen, In distant view, along the level green, While evening dews enrich the glittering glade, And the tall forests cast a longer shade, What time 'tis sweet o'er fields of rice to stray, 5 Or scent the breathing maize at setting day; Amidst the maids of Zagen's peaceful grove, Emyra sung the pleasing cares of love. Of Abra first began the tender strain, Who led her youth with flocks upon the plain. 10 At morn she came those willing flocks to lead, Where lilies rear them in the watery mead; From early dawn the livelong hours she told, Till late at silent eve she penn'd the fold. Deep in the grove, beneath the secret shade, 15 A various wreath of odorous flowers she made: Gay-motley'd[12] pinks and sweet jonquils she chose, The violet blue that on the moss-bank grows; All sweet to sense, the flaunting rose was there; The finish'd chaplet well adorn'd her hair. 20 Great Abbas chanced that fated morn to stray, By love conducted from the chase away; Among the vocal vales he heard her song, And sought, the vales and echoing groves among; At length he found, and woo'd the rural maid; 25 She knew the monarch, and with fear obey'd. 'Be every youth like royal Abbas moved, 'And every Georgian maid like Abra loved!' The royal lover bore her from the plain; Yet still her crook and bleating flock remain: 30 Oft, as she went, she backward turn'd her view, And bade that crook and bleating flock adieu. Fair, happy maid! to other scenes remove, To richer scenes of golden power and love! Go leave the simple pipe and shepherd's strain; 35 With love delight thee, and with Abbas reign! 'Be every youth like royal Abbas moved, 'And every Georgian maid like Abra loved!' Yet, 'midst the blaze of courts, she fix'd her love On the cool fountain, or the shady grove; 40 Still, with the shepherd's innocence, her mind To the sweet vale, and flowery mead, inclined; And oft as spring renew'd the plains with flowers, Breathed his soft gales, and led the fragrant hours, With sure return she sought the sylvan scene, 45 The breezy mountains, and the forests green. Her maids around her moved, a duteous band! Each bore a crook, all rural, in her hand: Some simple lay, of flocks and herds, they sung; With joy the mountain and the forest rung. 50 'Be every youth like royal Abbas moved, 'And every Georgian maid like Abra loved!'