Classic Poem

When such a day blessed the Arcadian plain,
Warm without sun, and shady without rain,
Fanned by an air, that scarcely bent the flowers,
Or waved the woodbines on the summer bowers,
The nymphs disordered beauty could not fear,
Nor ruffling winds uncurled the shepherd's hair,
On the fresh grass they trod their measures light,
And a long evening made, from moon to night.
Come then, my Daphnis, from those cares descend
Which better may the winter season spend.
Come, and the pleasures of the fields survey,
And through the groves with your Ardelia stray.

Reading the softest poetry refuse,
To view the subject of each rural muse;
Nor let the busy compasses go round,
When faery circles better mark the ground.
Rich colours on the vellum cease to lay,
When every lawn much nobler can display,
When on the dazzling poppy may be seen
A glowing red, exceeding your carmine;
And for the blue that o'er the sea is borne,
A brighter rises in our standing corn.
Come then, my Daphnis, and the fields survey,
And through the groves with your Ardelia stray.

Come, and let Sanson's World no more engage,
Although he gives a kingdom in a page;
O'er all the universe his lines may go,
And not a clime like temperate Britain show.
Come then, my Daphnis, and her fields survey,
And through the groves with your Ardelia stray.

Nor plead that you're immured and cannot yield,
That mighty bastions keep you from the field;
Think not, though lodged in Mons, or in Namur,
You're from my dangerous attacks secure.
No, Louis shall his falling conquests fear,
When by succeeding couriers he shall hear
Apollo and the Muses are drawn down
To storm each fort and take in every town.
Vauban the Orphean lyre to mind shall call,
That drew the stones to the old Theban wall,
And make no doubt, if it against him play,
They, from his works, will fly as fast away,
Which to prevent, he shall to peace persuade,
Of strong confederate syllables afraid.
Come then, my Daphnis, and the fields survey,
And through the groves with your Ardelia stray.

Come, and attend, how as we walk along,
Each cheerful bird shall treat us with a song,
Not such as fops compose, where wit, nor art,
Nor plainer nature, ever bear a part;
The crystal springs shall murmur as we pass,
But not like courtiers, sinking to disgrace;
Nor shall the louder rivers, in their fall,
Like unpaid sailors, or hoarse pleaders, brawl;
But all shall form a concert to delight,
And all to peace, and all to love invite.
Come then, my Daphnis, and the fields survey.
And through the groves with your Ardelia stray.

As Baucis and Philemon spent their lives,
Of husbands he, the happiest she of wives,
When through the painted meads their way they sought,
Harmless in act and unperplexed in thought,
Let us, my Daphnis, rural joy pursue,
And courts and camps not even in fancy view.
So, let us through the groves, my Daphnis, stray,
And so, the pleasures of the fields survey.