MESSIAH.

A

Sacred Eclogue,

In Imitation of

VIRGIL's POLLIO.

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IN reading several passages of the Prophet Ifaiah, which foretell the coming of Chrift and the felicities attending it, I could not but observe a remarkable parity between many of the thoughts, and those in the Pollio of Virgil. This will not seem surprising, when we reflect, that the Eclogue was taken from a Sibylline prophecy on the same subject. One may judge that Virgil did not copy it line by line, but selected such ideas as best agreed with the nature of paftoral poetry, and disposed them in that manner which served most to beautify his piece. I have endeavour'd the fame in this imitation of him, though without admitting any thing of my own; since it was written with this particular view, that the reader, by comparing the several thoughts, might fee how far the images and descriptions of the Prophet are fuperior to those of the Poet. But as I fear I have prejudiced them by my management, I shall subjoin the passages of Ifaiah, and those of Virgil, under the same disadvantage of a literal translation. P.

A

SACRED ECLOGUE,

In Imitation of VIRGIL'S POLLIO.

Y

E Nymphs of Solyma! begin the fong:
To heav'nly themes sublimer strains belong.

The mossy fountains, and the sylvan shades,
The dreams of Pindus and th'Aonian maids,
Delight no more-O thou my voice inspire
Who touch'd Isaiah's hallow'd lips with fire!
Rapt into future times, the Bard begun :
A Virgin shall conceive, a Virgin bear a Son!

ITATIONS.

5

From

VER. 8. A Virgin shall conceive - All crimes shall

ccafe, etc.]

VIRG. E. iv. v. 6.

Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna;
Jam nova progenies cælo demittitur alto.
Te duce, fi qua manent sceleris vestigia noftri,
Irrita perpetua solvent formidine terras-
Pacatumque reget patriis virtutibus orbem.

Now the Virgin returns, now the kingdom of Saturn returns, now a new Progeny is fent down from high heaven. By means of thee, whatever reliques of our crimes remain, fhall be wiped away, and free the world from perpetual fears. He shall govern the earth in peace, with the virtues of his Father.

ISAIAH, Ch. vii. v. 14. Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son. Ch. ix. v. 6, 7. Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; the Prince of Peace: of the increase

II

From * Jesse's root behold a branch arife,
Whose sacred flow'r with fragrance fills the skies:
Th' Æthereal spirit o'er its leaves shall move,
And on its tops descends the mystic Dove.
Ye + Heav'ns! from high the dewy nectar pour,
And in soft filence shed the kindly show'r!
The † fick and weak the healing plant shall aid,
From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade.
All crimes shall cease, and ancient fraud shall fail;
Returning || Justice lift aloft her scale;
Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend,
And white-rob'd Innocence from heav'n descend.
Swift fly the years, and rise th' expected morn! 21
Oh spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born!
See Nature hastes her earliest wreathes to bring,
With all the incenfe of the breathing spring:

IMITATIONS.

See

of his government, and of his peace, there shall be no end : Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order and to stablish it, with judgment, and with justice, for ever

and ever.

P.

VER. 23. See Nature hastes, etc.]
VIRG. E. iv. v. 18.

At tibi prima, puer, nullo manufcula cultu,
Errantes hederas paffim cum baccare tellus,
Mixtaque ridenti colocasia fundet acantho -
Ipsa tibi blandos fundent cunabula flores.

For thee, O Child, shall the earth, without being tile 1, produce her early offerings; winding ivy, mixed with Baccar, and Colocasia with smiling Acanthus. Thy cradle pall pour forth pleafing flowers about thee.

ISAIAH, Ch. xxxv. v. 1. The wilderness and the folitary place shall be glad, and the defart shall rejoice and blofJom

* Ifai xi. v. 1. † Ch. xlv. v. 8. Ch. xxv. V. 4. "Ch. ix. v. 7.

See * lofty Lebanon his head advance,
See nodding forests on the mountains dance :
See spicy clouds from lowly Saron rise,
And Carmel's flow'ry top perfumes the skies!
Hark! a glad voice the lonely desart chears;
Prepare the + way! a God, a God appears :
A God, a God! the vocal hills reply,
The rocks proclaim th' approaching Deity.
Lo, earth receives him from the bending skies!
Sink down ye mountains, and ye valleys rise,

25.

30

With

IMITATIONS.

fom as the rofe. Ch. lx. v. 13. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of the fanctuary.. P.

VER. 29. Hark, a glad Voice, etc.]

VIRG. E. iv. v. 46.

Aggredere o magnos, aderit jam tempus, honores,
Cara deûm foboles, magnum Jovis incrementum -
Ipsi lætitia voces ad sydera jactant
Intonfi montes, ipfæ jam carmina rupes,
Ipsa sonant arbusta, Deus, deus ille Menalca!
E. v. ver. 62.

Oh come and receive the mighty honours : the time draws nigh, O beloved offspring of the Gods, O great encrease of Jove! The uncultivated mountains fend shouts of joy to the stars, the very rocks fing in verse, the very shrubs cry out, A God, a God!

ISAIAH, Ch. xl. v. 3, 4. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord! make ftrait in the defart a high way for our God! Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and bill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made ftrait, and the rough places plain. Ch. iv. v. 23. Break forth into finging, ye mountains! O forest, and every tree therein! for the Lord bath redeemed Israel. P.

* Ch. xxxv. v. 2. † Ch. xl. v. 3, 4.