STREPHON. In spring the fields, in autumn hills I love, At morn the plains, at noon the shady grove, ut !

elia al"ays# a$sent from her sight, Nor plains at morn, nor groves at noon delight. !APHNIS. Sylvia's li(e autumn ripe, yet mild as )ay, )ore $right than noon, yet fresh as early day# Even spring displeases, "hen she shines not here# ut, $lest "ith her, 'tis spring throughout the year. STREPHON. Say, !aphnis, say, in "hat glad soil appears, A "ondrous tree*+, that sa-red monar-hs $ears. Tell me $ut this, and I'll dis-laim the pri/e, And give the -on0uest to thy Sylvia's eyes. !APHNIS. Nay, tell me first, in "hat more happy fields The thistle*1, springs, to "hi-h the lily*%, yields. And then a no$ler pri/e I "ill resign# 3or Sylvia, -harming Sylvia shall $e thine. !A)ON. 4ease to -ontend, for, !aphnis, I de-ree, The $o"l to Strephon, and the lam$ to thee5 lest s"ains, "hose nymphs in every gra-e e6-el# lest nymphs, "hose s"ains those gra-es sing so "ell7 No" rise, and haste to yonder "ood$ine $o"ers, A soft retreat from sudden vernal sho"ers# The turf "ith rural dainties shall $e -ro"n'd. 8hile opening $looms diffuse their s"eets around. 3or see7 the gath'ring flo-(s to shelter tend, And from the Pleiads fruitful sho"ers des-end. : ;ARIATIONS ;ER. <+. And -lusters lur( $eneath the -urling vines. ;ER. =2>?@. Originally thus in the )S.>> Pan, let my num$ers e0ual Strephon's lays, Of Parian stone thy statue "ill I raise# ut if I -on0uer and augment my fold, Thy Parian statue shall $e -hanged to gold. ;ER. +9>+=. It stood thus at first>> Aet ri-h I$eria golden flee-es $oast, Her purple "ool the proud Assyrian -oast, lest Thames's shores, B-. ;ER. +9>+% Originally thus in the )S.>> : : : : 2&

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Co, flo"ery "reath, and let my Sylvia (no", 4ompared to thine ho" $right her $eauties sho"# Then die# and dying tea-h the lovely maid Ho" soon the $rightest $eauties are de-ay'd. !APHNIS. Co, tuneful $ird, that pleased the "oods so long, Of Amaryllis learn a s"eeter song# To Heaven arising then her notes -onvey, 3or Heaven alone is "orthy su-h a lay. ;ER +2>1<. These verses "ere thus at first>> All nature mourns, the $irds their songs deny, Nor "asted $roo(s the thirsty flo"ers supply# If !elia smile, the flo"ers $egin to spring, The $roo(s to murmur, and the $irds to sing. ;ER. 22, 9&&, "as originally>> The turf "ith -ountry dainties shall $e spread, And trees "ith t"ining $ran-hes shade your head. : : : : :