A PASTORAL. [Young Damon gay, a faithful-hearted swain] Elizabeth Hands (née Herbert) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T141063 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. 62-65. [40],127,[1]p.; 8⁰.

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A PASTORAL . [ Young Damon gay , a faithful-hearted swain ] Young Damon gay , a faithful-hearted swain , Long sought fair Daphne's love , but sought in vain ; He often told her how sincere he lov'd , As oft the nymph his ardent flame reprov'd ; While yet his passion labour'd in his mind , He walk'd abroad his straying steeds to find ; Just then fair Laura went across the green , Long time this nymph fair Daphne's friend had been ; The swain to meet her stept across the way ; She stopt to hear what Damon had to say . Damon . Say , friendly maid , why wand'ring here alone ? Where is thy friend , the lovely Daphne gone ? Ah ! has some rival led her to the grove ? And may I never hope for Daphne's love ? Laura . A shepherd's fav'rite dog long lost has been , Fair Daphne found him wand'ring on the green ; Much does the shepherd-swain his loss deplore , The nymph is gone the wand'rer to restore . Damon . Ah , wretched Damon ! doom'd to love in vain , She loves the dog , she loves the shepherd-swain ; Oh Daphne ! I'll to death thy loss deplore , These lips shall ne'er salute a virgin more . Laura . Despair not , Damon , of fair Daphne's love , Thy vows repeated , may her pity move ; See , up yon hill ascends the maiden gay , Thou may'st o'ertake her , Damon , haste away . She said , and Damon turn'd his eyes around , And saw the maid ascend the rising ground ; Swift are the feet of messengers , that bring Glad news of conquests to their sov'reign King ; But up the steep more swiftly Damon came , Love , urg'd by fear , has swifter wings than fame . The lovely Daphne smil'd to see him run , And thus the swain in humble suit begun : Damon . Why Daphne here , from ev'ry friend apart ? What on this hill can charm thy virgin heart ? If down the other side thou would'st descend , My lovely maid , permit me to attend . Daphne . Now spring with verdure ev'ry field adorns , And birds are singing on the bloomy thorns , Can such things fail to charm ? but Damon say , How did you know that I was come this way ? Damon . I walk'd abroad , my straying steeds to see ; But my fond heart was still pursuing thee ; They were my small , but thou my greater care , O happy chance , that led me to my fair . Daphne . A shepherd's dog has long been gone astray , I found him on the green the other day ; This fav'rite dog , the swain does much lament , I'll lead him home , and give the swain content . Damon . Why in such haste ! the fun , my fair one , see , Is yet as high as yonder lofty tree ; Those verdant meadows , where fresh daisies grow , Invite our steps , my Daphne , shall we go ? The maid consented , making no reply ; What maid could such a small request deny ? A chrystal stream , in gentle murmurs glides Along the valley , and the meads divides ; Along the banks the verdant alders grow , Their branches bending to the stream below ; The tender leaves that hung on ev'ry spray , And hawthorn blossoms shew'd the month was May ; Flow'rs , of various hue , bedeck'd the shade , And there yound Damon led the tender maid : Her slender waist no gaudy a ribband bound , But Damon'd arm did form a circle round ; Soft were the whisp'rings of the western gale , But with more softness Damon told his tale ; The pleasing tale the maid in silence heard , But in her heart the gentle swain preferr'd ; Thus o'er one meadow they were quickly gone , Yet still by pleasant meadows tempted on , How soon the lovers moments pass away , How soon , how , soon approach'd the close of day , The sun departed , and the plains grew damp , And rising Cynthia trimm'd her silver lamp ; No more the birds to charm the year aspir'd , And wand'ring lovers from the plain retir'd ; The swain ne'er thought to go , his steeds to find , The nymph forgot to leave her dog behind .