Would touch (for well he could) the silver lyre;

So sweetly ravish'd each enchanting lay,
That Pan, in scornful wise, would fling away

His rustic pipe, and ev'n the sacred Train
Would leave their lov'd Parnass' in trim array,
And thought their own Apollo once again
Charm'd his attentive flock, a simple shepherd
swain.

XIII.

And ever and anon of worthies old,

Whose praise Fame's trump through earth's wide bounds had spread,

To fire his mind to brave exploits, he told; Pirithous, known for prowest hardy-head; Theseus, whose wrath the dire Procrustes fied; And Hercules, whom trembling Lerna fear'd, When Hydra fell, in loathsome marshes bred, In vain against the son of Jove uprear'd

Head sprouting under head, by thrillant faulchion shear'd.

XIV.

The stern-brow'd boy in mute attention stood,
To hear the sage relate each great emprise;
Then strode along the cave in haughtier mood,
Whilst varying passions in his bosom rise,
And lightning beams flash from his glowing eyes.

Ev'n now he scorns the prey the desarts yield,
Ev'n now, as hope the future scene supplies,

He shakes the terror of his heav'n-form'd shield, And braves th' indignant flood, and thunders o'er the field.

POEM IV.

THE

CHOICE OF HERCULES.

BY

ROBERT LOWTH, D. D.

[Late Bishop of London.]

I.

Now had the son of Jove mature, attain'd
The joyful prime : when Youth, elate and gay,
Steps into life; and follows unrestrain'd

Where passion leads, or prudence points the way.
In the pure mind, at those ambiguous years,

Or vice, rank weed, first strikes her poisonous root;

Or haply virtue's op'ning bud appears

By just degrees; fair bloom, of fairest fruit: Summer shall ripen what the spring began; Youth's generous fires will glow more constant in the

man.

II.

As on a day reflecting on his age

For highest deeds now ripe, Alcides sought
Retirement; nurse of contemplation sage;

Poem IV.

POEMS IMITATIVE, &c.

29

Step following step, and thought succeeding thought;

Musing, with steady pace the youth pursu'd His walk; and lost in meditation stray'd Far in a lonely vale, with solitude Conversing; while intent his mind survey'd The dubious path of life: before him lay Here Virtue's rough ascent, there Pleasure's flow'ry

way.

III.

Much did the view divide his wav'ring mind: Now glow'd his breast with generous thirst of

fame;

Now love of ease to softer thought inclin'd
His yielding soul, and quench'd the rising flame.
When lo! far off two female forms he spies;
Direct to him their steps they seem to bear:
Both large and tall, exceeding human size;
Both, far exceeding human beauty, fair,

Graceful, yet each with different grace they move: This striking sacred awe; that softer, winning love.

IV.

The first, in native dignity surpast;

Artless and unadorn'd she pleas'd the more:

Health, o'er her looks, a genuine lustre cast;
A vest, more white than new-fall'n snow, she wore,
August she trod, yet modest was her air ;

Serene her eye, yet darting heav'nly fire,

Still she drew near; and nearer still more fair, More mild appear'd: yet such as might inspire Pleasure corrected with an aweful fear; Majestically sweet, and amiably severe.

V.

The other dame seem'd ev'n of fairer hue;
But bold her mien; unguarded rov'd her eye:
And her flush'd cheeks confess'd at nearer view
The borrow'd blushes of an artful dye.
All soft and delicate, with airy swim

Lightly she danc'd along; her robe betray'd
Thro' the clear texture every tender limb,
Height'ning the charms it only seem'd to shade;
And as it flow'd adown, so loose and thin,

Her stature shew'd more tall; more snowy-white her skin.

VI.

Oft with a smile she view'd herself askance ;
Ev'n on her shade a conscious look she threw ;
Then all around her cast a careless glance,
To mark what gazing eyes her beauty drew.
As they came near, before that other maid
Approaching decent, eagerly she prest
With hasty step; nor of repulse afraid,