[Page 56]

WIT AND BEAUTY.

A PASTORAL.

Celia.
1 Our shepherds are gone o'er the hill,
2 To sport on the neighbouring plain;
3 Let's sit by this murmuring rill,
4 And sing till they come back again.
Sylvia.
5 We'll sing of our favourite swains,
6 By whom our fond hearts are possest;
7 And Daphne shall judge of the strains,
8 Which sings of her shepherd the best.
Daphne.
9 Come sing then, and Daphne will hear,
10 Nor linger the time to prolong;
11 And this wreath of roses I wear,
12 Shall crown the fair victor in song.
Celia.
13 My Thirsis is airy and gay,
14 His pride is in pleasing the fair;
15 He sings and drives sorrow away,
16 His humour will banish all care.
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Sylvia.
17 To Daphnis the pride of my lay,
18 The merits of beauty belong;
19 His smiles will chase sorrow away,
20 As well as your shepherd's sine song.
Celia.
21 When piping my Thirsis is seen,
22 The virgins assemble around;
23 And all the blithe swains of the green,
24 Approve, while they envy the sound.
Sylvia.
25 When Daphnis approaches the plains,
26 The virgins all blush with surprise;
27 With negligence treating their swains,
28 And fix on my Daphnis their eyes.
Celia.
29 If e'er I am pensive and sad,
30 Or sigh to the evening gale;
31 I'm cheer'd by the voice of my lad,
32 Who tells me a humorous tale.
Sylvia.
33 When I am perplexed with fears,
34 And nothing can give me delight;
35 As soon as my Daphnis appears,
36 I languish away at the sight.
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Daphne.
37 Now cease to contend, my dear lasses,
38 My wreath I'll acknowledge your due;
39 Nor yet can I tell which surpasses,
40 Your merits you equally shew.
41 'Twas Strephon that gave me the treasure,
42 Which now I to you shall impart;
43 (That name! O, I speak it with pleasure!
44 It ever enraptures my heart.)
45 Nor Sylvia, nor Celia, shall have it,
46 I'll justly divide it in two;
47 Believe me, my Strephon, that gave it,
48 Is beautiful, witty, and — true.

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Title (in Source Edition): WIT AND BEAUTY. A PASTORAL.
Author: Elizabeth Hands (née Herbert)
Themes:
Genres: pastoral

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Hands, Elizabeth, 1746-1815. The death of Amnon. A poem. With an appendix: containing pastorals, and other poetical pieces. By Elizabeth Hands. [Coventry]: Printed for the author, by N. Rollason, Coventry, M,DCCLXXXIX., 1789, pp. 56-58. [40],127,[1]p.; 8⁰. (ESTC T141063) (Page images digitized from a copy in the Bodleian Library [Dunston B 961 (1)].)

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Other works by Elizabeth Hands (née Herbert)