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| ’TWAS 1 on a Joyless and a Gloomy Morn, | |
| Wet was the Grass, and hung with Pearls the Thorn, | |
| When Damon, who design’d to pass the Day | |
| With Hounds and Horns, and chase the flying Prey. | |
| Rose early from his Bed; but soon he found | 5 |
| The Welkin pitch’d with sullen Clouds around. | |
| An Eastern Wind, and Dew upon the Ground. | |
| Thus while he stood, and sighing did survey | |
| The Fields, and curs’d th’ ill Omens of the Day, | |
| He saw Menalcas come with heavy pace; | 10 |
| Wet were his Eyes, and chearless was his Face: | |
| Hewrung his Hands, distracted with his Care, | |
| And sent his Voice before him from afar. | |
| Return, he cry’d, return unhappy Swain, | |
| The spungy Clouds are fill’d with gath’ring Rain: | 15 |
| The Promise of the Day not only crossed, | |
| But ev’n the Spring, the Spring it self is lost. | |
| Amyntas—Oh! he cou’d not speak the rest, | |
| Nor needed, for presaging Damon guess’d. | |
| Equal with Heav’n young Damon loved the Boy; | 20 |
| The boast of Nature, both his Parents Joy. | |
| His graceful Form revolving in his Mind; | |
| So great a Genius, and a Soul so kind, | |
| Gave sad assurance that his Fears were true; | |
| Too well the Envy of the Gods he knew: | 25 |
| For when their Gifts too lavishly are plac’d, | |
| Soon they repent, and will not make them last. | |
| For, sure, it was too bountiful a Dole, | |
| The Mother’s Features, and the Father’s Soul. | |
| Then thus he cry’d, The Morn bespoke the News, | 30 |
| The Morning did her chearful Light diffuse, | |
| But see how suddenly she changed her Face, | |
| And brought on Clouds and Rains, the Day’s disgrace: | |
| Just such, Amyntas, was thy promis’d Race. | |
| What Charms adorn’d thy Youth where Nature smil’d, | 35 |
| And more than Man was giv’n us in a Child. | |
| His Infancy was ripe: a Soul sublime | |
| In years so tender that prevented time; | |
| Heav’n gave him all at once; then snatch’d away, | |
| E’re Mortals all his Beauties cou’d survey, | 40 |
| Just like the Flow’r that buds and withers in a day. | |
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MENALCAS. The Mother Lovely, tho’ with Grief opprest, | |
| Reclin’d his dying Head upon her Breast. | |
| The mournful Family stood all around; | |
| One Groan was heard, one Universal Sound: | 45 |
| All were in Floods of Tears and endless Sorrow drown’d. | |
| So dire a Sadness sate on ev’ry Look, | |
| Ev’n Death repented he had giv’n the Stroke. | |
| He griev’d his fatal Work had been ordain’d, | |
| But promis’d length of Life to those who yet remain’d. | 50 |
| The Mother’s and her Eldest Daughters Grace, | |
| It seems had brib’d him to prolong their space. | |
| The Father bore it with undaunted Soul, | |
| Like one who durst his Destiny controul: | |
| Yet with becoming Grief he bore his part, | 55 |
| Resign’d his Son, but not resign’d his Heart. | |
| Patient as Job; and may he live to see, | |
| Like him, a new increasing Family! | |
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DAMON. Such is my Wish, and such my Prophesie. | |
| For Yet, my Friend, the Beauteous Mold remains, | 60 |
| Long may she exercise her fruitful Pains: | |
| But, ah! with better hap, and bring a Race | |
| More lasting, and endu’d with equal Grace: | |
| Equal she may, but farther none can go; | |
| For he was all that was exact below. | 65 |
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MENALCAS. Damon, behold yon breaking Purple Cloud; | |
| Hear’st thou not Hymns and Songs Divinely loud? | |
| There mounts Amyntas; the young Cherubs play | |
| About their Godlike Mate, and Sing him on his way. | |
| He cleaves the liquid Air, behold, he Flies, | 70 |
| And every Moment gains upon the Skies; | |
| The new come Guest admires th’ Ætherial State, | |
| The Saphyr Portal, and the Golden Gate; | |
| And now admitted in the shining Throng, | |
| He shows the Passport which he brought along. | 75 |
| His Passport is his Innocence and Grace, | |
| Well known to all the Natives of the Place. | |
| Now Sing, yee joyful Angels, and admire | |
| Your Brother’s Voice that comes to mend your Quire: | |
| Sing you, while endless Tears our Eyes bestow; | 80 |
| For like Amyntas none is left below. | |
