456 LYCIDASa Begin then, Sifters of the facred well, Es That from beneath the feat of Jove doth fpring, Begin, and fomewhat loudly sweep the firing, Hence with denial vain, and coy excufe, So may fame gentle Mufe With lucky words favor my deftin'd urn, 20 And as he pates turn, And bid fair peace be to my fable fhroud. For we were nurfl upon the felf-fame bill, Fed the fame flock by fountain, fhade, and rill: Together both, ere the high lawns appear'd 25 Under the opening eye-lids of the morn, We &rove a field, and both together heard What time the gray-fly winds her fulcry horn, Batening our flocks with the frefh dews of night, Oft till the (tar that role, at evening, bright, 30 Tow'ard Heav'n's defcent had flop'd his i,vefi'ring wheel. Mean while the rural ditties were not mute, Tcmper'd to th' oaten flute, Rough Satyrs danc'd, and Fauns with cloven heel From the glad found would not be abfent long, 35 And old Dam2etas lov'd to hear our fong. But 0 the heavy change, now thou art gone, Now thou art gone, and never mutt return Thee, Shepherd, thee the woods, and defert caves With wild thyme and the gadding vine o'ergrown, And all their echoes mourn. The willows, and the hazel copies green, shall now no more be feen, Fanning their joyous leaves to thy foft lays. As killing as the canker to the role, 45 Or taint-worm to the weanling herds that graze, Or froft to fiow'rs, that their gay wardrobe wear, When firfi the white-thorn blows ; such Lycidas, thy lois to thepherds ear, Where
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