"The pines of Mænalus, the vocal grove, Are ever full of verse, and full of love: They hear the hinds, they hear their god complain, Who suffered not the reeds to rise in vain Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Mænalian strain. "Mopsus triumphs; he weds the willing fair. When such is Nisa's choice, what lover can despair? Now griffons join with mares; another age Shall see the hound and hind their thirst assuage, Promiscuous at the spring. Prepare the lights, O Mopsus! and perform the bridal rites. Scatter thy nuts among the scrambling boys: Thine is the night, and thine the nuptial joys. For thee the sun declines: O happy swain! Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Mænalian strain. "O Nisa! justly to thy choice condemned! Whom hast thou taken, whom hast thou contemned? For him, thou hast refused my browzing herd, Scorned my thick eye brows, and my shaggy beard. Unhappy Damon sighs and sings in vain, } While Nisa thinks no god regards a lover's pain. } Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Mænalian strain. } "I viewed thee first, (how fatal was the view!) And led thee where the ruddy wildings grew, High on the planted hedge, and wet with morning dew. Then scarce the bending branches I could win; The callow down began to clothe my chin. I saw; I perished; yet indulged my pain. Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Mænalian strain. "I know thee, Love! in deserts thou wert bred, And at the dugs of savage tigers fed; Alien of birth, usurper of the plains! Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Mænalian strains. "Relentless Love the cruel mother led The blood of her unhappy babes to shed: Love lent the sword; the mother struck the blow; Inhuman she; but more inhuman thou: Alien of birth, usurper of the plains! Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Mænalian strains. "Old doting Nature, change thy course anew, And let the trembling lamb the wolf pursue; Let oaks now glitter with Hesperian fruit, And purple daffodils from alder shoot; Fat amber let the tamarisk distil, And hooting owls contend with swans in skill; Hoarse Tityrus strive with Orpheus in the woods, And challenge famed Arion on the floods. Or, oh! let Nature cease, and Chaos reign! Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Mænalian strain. "Let earth be sea; and let the whelming tide The lifeless limbs of luckless Damon hide: Farewell, ye secret woods, and shady groves, Haunts of my youth, and conscious of my loves! From yon high cliff I plunge into the main; } Take the last present of thy dying swain; } And cease, my silent flute, the sweet Mænalian strain." } Now take your turns, ye Muses, to rehearse His friend's complaints, and mighty magic verse: