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As the Dove trembling from the Faulcon flies, As his fleet Wings th' approaching Falcon plies: So haften'd I, fo he purfu'd his Prize..! Thro' the Menalian Groves I fped my Flight, And gain'd with weary Steps Cyllene's Height. Nor swifter he, but of fuperior Force

To lengthen out the long, laborious Course. Yet over fhaggy Hills with Brakes o'erfpread, And craggy Rocks and defart Wilds I fled.

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Before my Feet I faw a monftrous Shade, Unless my Fear that frightful Phantom made. Howe'er his founding Steps and puffing Breath, That fann'd my Treffes, frighted me to Death. Spent with the Labour of the Flight, (I said) I'm caught! Diana! oh! thy Huntress aid. Help in Diftrefs the Nymph that us'd to bear Thy Bow, thy Quiver, and thy pointed Spear.

The

The Goddess heard my Pray'r, and deign'd to My panting Body in a pitchy Cloud.

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Here tho' I vanish'd from Alpheus' fight, Yet ftill impatient to pursue the Flight, Twice he furveys the Cloud with fearching Eyes, And Arethufa! Arethufa! cries.

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To me what Strength! what Life did then reNo more, than to the Lamb, that hears with Pain The howling Wolf around th' Enclosure rove, Yet from its helpless Mother dares not move. Nor went he on, but kept the Cloud and Place; For he my Footsteps cou'd no further trace. O'er all my Limbs an oozing Sweat appears, My weeping Eyes pour out a Flow of Tears. Big azure Drops my dewy Hairs distil, From every Pore defcends a trickling Rill.

My

My whole diffolving Body liquid grows,
And where I mov'd my Foot a Current flows,
Nay, fooner than I now the Change relate,
I'm alkafloat. Yet confcious of my Fate,
The River-God diffolv'd his Form Divine,
And reaffum'd his Streams to mix with mine.
Diana cleft the Ground. Through winding Caves
Long time I stray'd unmix'd with Briny Waves.
At length, to kind Ortygia's Shore convey'd,
In filver Streams I rear'd my watry Head.

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Vertummus and Pomona,

..... FROM

E

The Fourteenth Book of OVID'S METAMORPHOSES.

Rege fub hoc Pomona fuit

By Mr. POP Ë.

-&c.,

HE fair Pomona flourish'd in his Reign;

TH

Of all the Virgins of the Sylvan Train, None taught the Trees a nobler Race to bear, Or more improv'd the Vegetable Care.

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To her the fhady Grove, the flow'ry Fields The Streams and Fountains, no Delights cou'd ...K

"Twas

'Twas all her Joy the ripening Fruits to tend,
And view the Boughs with happy Burthens bend.
No Dart the wielded, but a Hook did bear,
To lop the Growth of the luxuriant Year,
To decent Form the lawless Shoots to bring,
And teach th' obedient Branches where to fpring.
Now the cleft Rind inferted Graffs receives,
And yields an Off-spring more than Nature gives;
Now fliding Streams the thirsty Plants renew,
And feed their Fibres with reviving Dew.

These Cares alone her Virgin Breast imploy, Averfe from Venus and the Nuptial Joy; Her private Orchards wall'd on ev'ry fide, To lawless Sylvans all Access deny'd.

How oft the Satyrs and the wanton Fawns, Who haunt the Forefts or frequent the Lawns, The God whofe Enfign fcares the Birds of Prey, And old Silenus, youthful in Decay,

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