Fable XI. Young Bacchus and the Faun

ONE day young B^cdins, whom Sileni^ taught, would seek the Mules in a neigbhonring grove, whose silence purling dreams alone diifairbed, and warbling birds; Sol could not, with his beams, tranfpierce the gloomy verdure, here the son of Se-mele, to learn the speech of gods, seated him by a venerable oak, whence many men, in the age of gold, had sprung, it erst had likewise uttered oracles, nor Time's keen scythe had dared to bring it down, sad by this sacred ancient oak lay hid a youthful Faun, who lent attentive ear to all the verses which the in-sant sung, and noted to Silenus, by a sneer, whatever faults his young difdple made, the Naiads then and wood-nymphs also smiled; the critic young and gayfome was and gay. his head ^th ivy and with vine was crowned; his temples were adorned around with grapes; from his left flioulder, o'er his other side hung, scars-wife, negligent, a large feftoon of leaves, which youthful Bacchus saw with joy, of ivy sacred m to the jolly god. the Faun enveloped was abore the waist, with all the dreadful and the (haggy fpdl of a young lionefsy he'd (lain in the woods, a bending knotty crook waved in his hand; his tail played wantonly upon his back.

But Bacchus could not bear the wicked wag, who {till was ready to deride his words, if not predTdy '^ pure and elegant, with fiery and impatient tone he^ cried; how dared thou mock the son of mighty Jove? to which the Faun unmoved, made this reply^ hoy dares the son of Jove commit a fault ^

T H X

NIGHTINGALE

^ LINNET-