Fable XXVII. Chromus and Mnasylus

THIS grove has a delightful coolness; the trees are tall, the foliage thick, the walks shady; one hears no noise but that of nightingales; warbling their loves.

There are here beauties still more (Inking.

What! doil thou mean those statues? Idon'tthmk them very handsome. there's one that has a mighty homely afpedt.

It represents a woman; but let us talk no more of it; for thou knowest one of our shepherds^ who has already said all that can be said of her.

What then? is it that other inclined above the fountain?

No; I don't mean that neither, the shepherd Lycidas has sung it to his pipe, and I would never pretend to praise after him.

CHftOMlS AND MNASYbVt. lO^

Which then! that statue which represents a young woman?

Ay; you've hit on't at last. Aie has by no means that ruiUc air of the two others; and, indeed, she is a greater deity: it is Pomona, or, at kaft, a nymph; she holds in one hand an horn of plenty, stored with all the pleasant fruits of the autumn; with the other she bears a vase, whence pieces of money drop ia confusion: thus she holds, at the same time, the fruits of the ^arth, which are the riches of ftmple nature, and the treasures, to which the art of men gire fo high a value.

She has her head a little inclined, why fo?

MKASYLUS.

'Tis true; and that because all figures designed (6t exalted situations, and to be seen from below, are in a better point -of view, when they are a little inclined towards the fpedlators.

But what pray is that head-dress? it is unknown to our fhepherdefles.

It is, however, easy and negligent; and she is nothing the less graceful, that is her hair, well parted on the forehead, hanging down a little on each side, with a natural curl, and neatly tied behind.

r04 CmOMtS AND MNASYLUf.'

And that garment: why fo many folds f

MNA8YLUS.

That is a gairoent, which has the same air of negligence; it is boundup with a girdle, that fo the nymph may walk more commodiously in these woods; those' flowing folds form a more agreeable drapery than strait and formal garments; the hand of the workman feeras to have fofcened the marble, to make fo delicate folds; you see the very (kin beneath this drapery; thus you £nd, at once, the tender softness of the fiesh, and the variety of folds of the drapery.

So, fo! thou art very learned, but fincc thou knowest every thing, tell me; that horn, of plenty, is it that of the river Achelous, snatched from him by Hercules, or that of the goat Amalthea, Jupiter's Durfe on mount Ida?

That question is yet to decide; mean time I ruii to my flock, adieu.