Fable XII. The Nightingale and the Linnet

ON the ever-green banks of the river Alpheas» there is a sacred grove, where three Naiads dis-fuse, with no small noise, their crystal waters, and sprinkle the rising flowers, hither the Graces oft resort to bathe, the trees of this grove are never ruffled, for the winds revere them; they are only fanned by the breath of gentle zephjrrs; here the nymphs and fauns perform their nightly dances, to the muGc of Pan's melodious flute, the sun, with his keenest rays, can never pierce the thick (hade which is formed by the intertwined boughs of this grove; but fUence, darkness, and delicious cool, reign there by day as night* under this foliage Philomela sings, with plaintive melody, her ancient woes, yet unconsoled. mean whilo ■a young and merry-hearted linnet, warbles her pleasures, and declares the spring to all the (hepherds.rojiUK). Now Philomel berfelf grows jealous of the tender notes of her companion, one day they Ipied a yoang and beauteous swain> whom, in those woods, they ne'er had seen before, gracefiil indeed and noble wat his afped, he seemed the Muses friend, and to delight in harmony^ they took this lovely swain to be Apollo, such as he formerly had served Admetus, or some young hero of his race divine, now the two songsters, by the Nine inspired, begun tp warble these prophetic strains.

• Who is this shepherd, or this god unknown, that ' comes to ornament our happy grove, our songs af- ' fed him, and he feeas to love sweet poesy, which ' loon will soothe his heart, apd render him as amiable

• as brave.*

Then Philomel coodaued tknt alone.

• May this young hero still increase in virtue, as a ' young flower opening in the spring; and may he love

• the mind's fw:eet entertainments; fHll may the Gra- ' ces dwell upon his lips, and in bis heart Miacrva's

• wildom reign.'

The linnet aofwered her.

' O may he equal Orpheus in voice, and H«rculcs ' in deeds of hig^ renosim; may his great soul poflefs ' AdiiJIes' fire, without his £erceoe^; be he good, ' wife, bountiful and teqder towards men, aiid earn

• their love; O mtny the heavenly nine in him all yir-

• tues raiie, without allay!'

Then ifae sweet foogfters Aui resumed in ooicert.

A N D T H E L I N M B T. ^I

• He loyes our melody, into his heart it enters deep,

• like as the welcome dew falls on our greens, when ' parched up by the sun; may the gods grant him pru-

• dent moderation, and make him ever happy; may ' his hand ilill hold the horn of plenty; may the age of ' gold return in hixh; may heaven-bohi wisdom from

• him diffuse its influence benigp on mortals; and may ' flowers succeed his steps.*

While thus they sang, the 29e^yr8 held their breath; all the flowers of the grove opened in fail-blown beauty; the streams, by the three fountains foitned^ suspended all the While their mazy courses } the Satyrs and the Fauns, to hear the better, pricked up their pointed ears; Edio rdieaifed the beaut^ouse flrains to all the rocks around; the Dryads ifliied from the verdant ttees, in order to admire the princely youth, whom Philomel and ktr compftnioa song. *

T HB

HUMOURIST-