ORIENTAL ECLOGUES. BY WILLIAM COLLINS. ECLOGUE I. SELIM; OR, THE SHEPHERD'S MORAL. Scene, a Valley near Bagdat.-Time, the Morning. "YE Persian maids, attend your Poet's lays, "And hear how shepherds pass their golden days. "Not all are blest whom Fortune's hand sustains "With wealth in courts; nor all that haunt the plains: "Well may your hearts believe the truth I tell; "Tis virtue makes the bliss where'er we dwell." Thus Selim sung, by sacred truth inspired; Nor praise, but such as truth bestow'd, desired: Wise in himself, his meaning songs convey'd Informing morals to the shepherd maid; Or taught the swains that surest bliss to find, What groves nor streams bestow-a virtuous mind. When sweet and blushing, like a virgin bride, The radiant morn resumed her orient pride; When wanton gales along the valleys play, Breathe on each flower, and bear their sweets away; By Tigris' wandering waves ho sat, and sung. This useful lesson for the fair and young. "Ye Persian dames," he said " to you belong"Well may they please the morals of my song: "No fairer maids, I trust, than you are found, "Graced with soft arts, the peopled world around! "The morn that lights you, to your loves supplies "Each gentler ray delicious to your eyes: "For you those flowers her fragrant hands bestow ; And yours the love that kings delight to know. Yet think not these, all beauteous as they are, The best kind blessings Heaven can grant the fair! "Who trust alone in beauty's feeble ray, "Boast but the worth Balsora's pearls display: "Drawn from the deep, we own the surface bright; "But, dark within, they drink no lustrous light: "Such are the maids, and such the charms they boast, "By sense unaided, or to virtue lost. "Self-flattering sex! your hearts believe in vain That love shall blind, when once he fires the swain; "Or hope a lover by your faults to win, "Who seeks secure to rule, be first her care "The loved perfection of a female mind! "Blest were the days when Wisdom held her reign, "And shepherds sought her on the silent plain! "With Truth she wedded in the secret grove; "Immortal Truth! and daughters bless'd their love. "O haste, fair maids! ye Virtues, come away! "Sweet Peace and Plenty lead you on your way! "The balmy shrub for you shall love our shore, "By Ind excell'd, or Araby, no more. "Lost to our fields, for so the fates ordain, "The dear deserters shall return again. "Come thou, whose thoughts as limpid springs are clear, "To lead the train, sweet Modesty, appear: "Here make thy court amidst our rural scene, "And shepherd girls shall own thee for their queen : "With thee be Chastity, of all afraid, "Distrusting all;-a wise, suspicious maid ;— "But man the most:-not more the mountain doe "Holds the swift falcon for her deadly foe. "Cold is her breast, like flowers that drink the dew; A silken veil conceals her from the view. "No wild desires amidst thy train be known; "But Faith, whose heart is fix'd on one alone; "Desponding Meekness, with her downcast eyes, "And friendly Pity, full of tender sighs; "And Love, the last: by these your hearts approve ; "These are the virtues that must lead to love." Thus sung the swain; and ancient legends say ECLOGUE II. HASSAN; OR, THE CAMEL-DRIVER. Scene, the Desert.-Time, Mid-Day. IN silent horror, o'er the boundless waste, The beasts with pain their dusty way pursue; Ah! little thought I of the blasting wind, Ye mute companions of my toils, that bear Cursed be the gold and silver, which persuade Why heed we not, while mad we haste along, O cease my fears!—All frantic as I go, Oft, in the dust, I view his printed feet: At that dead hour the silent asp shall creep, Or some swoln serpent twist his scales around, Thrice happy they, the wise contented poor, O hapless youth!-for she thy love hath wonThe tender Zara will be most undone! |