Page:Pastorals Epistles Odes (1748).djvu/54

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PASTORALS.
"Now take, delightful bird, my last farewel,"He said, and learn from hence thou dost excel "No trivial artist: and anon he wound "The murmuring strings, and order'd every sound: 84 "Then earnest to his instrument he bends, "And both hands pliant on the strings extends: "His touch the strings obey, and various move, "The lower answering still to those above: 88 "His fingers, restless, traverse to and fro, "As in pursuit of harmony they go: "Now lightly skimming, o'er the strings they pass,"Like winds which gently brush the plying grass, 92 "While melting airs arise at their command: "And now, laborious, with a weighty hand "He sinks into the cords, with solemn pace,"To give the swelling tones a bolder grace; 96 "And now the left, and now by turns the right, "Each other chase, harmonious both in flight: "Then his whole fingers blend a swarm of sounds, "Till the sweet tumult through the harp redounds. 100"Cease, Colin, cease, thy rival cease to vex;"The mingling notes, alas! her ear perplex: "She warbles, diffident, in hope and fear,"And hits imperfect accents here and there, 104

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