The well-turn'd neck and shoulders he descries, By his own flames confum'd the lover lies, And gives himself the wound by which he dies. Oft catching at the beauteous shade he dips With eager clafps, but loves he knows not who. Thy own warm blush within the water glows, Step thou afide, and the frail charmer dies. Still o'er the fountain's wat'ry gleam he stood, Mindless of fleep, and negligent of food; Still view'd his face, and languifh'd as he view'd. At length he rais'd his head, and thus began To vent his griefs, and tell the woods his pain. "You trees, fays he, and thou furrounding grove, "Who oft have been the kindly scenes of love, "Tell me, if e'er within your fhades did lie "A youth fo tortur'd, fo perplex'd as I? } } "I, who << I, who before me fee the charming fair, "Whilft there he stands, and yet he stands not there: "In fuch a maze of love my thoughts are loft: "And yet no bulwark'd town, nor diftant coast, "Preserves the beauteous youth from being feen, "N mountains rife, nor oceans flow between. "A fhallow water hinders my embrace ; "And yet the lovely mimic wears a face "That kindly fmiles, and when I bend to join 66 My lips to his, he fondly bends to mine. "Hear, gentle youth, and pity my complaint, "Come from thy well, thou fair inhabitant. 66 My charms an easy conquest have obtained "O'er other hearts, by thee alone disdain'd. "But why should I defpair? I'm fure he burns "With equal flames, and languishes by turns. "Whene'er I ftoop, he offers at a kiss, "And when my arms I ftretch, he stretches his. "His eyes with pleasure on my face he keeps, "He fmiles my fmiles, and when I weep he "Whene'er I speak, his moving lips appear "To utter fomething which I cannot hear. weeps. "Ah wretched me! I now begin too late "To find out all the long-perplex'd deceit ; "It is myself I love, myself I fee; "The gay delufion is a part of me. "I kindle up the fires by which I burn, "And my own beauties from the well return. " Whom "Whom should I court? how utter my complaint? 66 Enjoyment but produces my reftraint, "And too much plenty makes me die for want. "And now I faint with grief; my fate draws nigh; This faid, the weeping youth again return'd And now the lovely face but half appears, O'er-run with wrinkles, and deform'd with tears. "Let me ftill feed the flame by which I die; Ere yet the fun's autumnal heats refine Their fprightly juice, and mellow it to wine. As As wax diffolves, as ice begins to run, Whom, fpite of all her wrongs, fhe griev'd to fee. Sigh'd back his fighs, and groan'd to ev'ry groan: For him the Naiads and the Dryads mourn, } The Story of CEYX and ALCYONE, T from OVID. Tranflated by Mr. DRYDEN. HESE prodigies affect the pious prince; But more perplex'd with those that happen'd fince, He purposes to feek the Clarian God, Her voice return'd and found the wonted way. Whither, ah, whither, is thy kindness gone! Can Ceyx then fuftain to leave his wife, And unconcern'd forfake the sweets of life? } } Y et. |