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IN reading feveral paffages 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 thofe in the Pollio of Virgil. This will not feem furprifing, when we reflect, that the Eclogue was taken from a Sibylline prophecy on the fame fubject. One may judge that Virgil did not copy it line by line, but felected fuch ideas as beft agreed with the nature of paftoral poetry, and difpofed them in that manner which ferved moft to beautify his piece. I have endeavour'd the fame in this imitation of him, though without admitting any thing of my own; fince it was written with this particular view, that the reader, by comparing the feveral thoughts, might fee how far the images and defcriptions of the Prophet are fuperior to thofe of the Poet. But as I fear I have prejudiced them by my management, I fhall fubjoin the paffages of Ifaiah, and those of Virgil, under the fame disadvantage of a literal translation. P.

MESSI A H.

A

SACRED ECLOGUE,

In Imitation of VIRGIL'S POLLIO.

E Nymphs of Solyma! begin the song:

YE

To heav'nly themes fublimer strains belong. The mofly fountains, and the fylvan fhades, The dreams of Pindus and th'Aonian maids, Delight no more-O thou my voice inspire Who touch'd Ifaiah's hallow'd lips with fire! Rapt into future times, the Bard begun : A Virgin fhall conceive, a Virgin bear a Son!

IMITATIONS,

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From

VER. 8. A Virgin fhall conceive - All crimes fhall ceafe, etc.]

VIRG. E. iv. v. 6.

Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna;
Jam nova progenies cælo demittitur alto.
Te duce, fi qua manent fceleris veftigia noftri,
Irrita perpetua folvent 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 hall govern the earth in peace, with the virtues of his Father.

ISAIAH, Ch. vii. v. 14. Behold a Virgin fhall 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

D 3

of

*

From Jeffe's root behold a branch arise,

Whofe facred flow'r with fragrance fills the fkies:
Th'Æthereal spirit o'er its leaves shall move,
And on its tops defcends the myftic Dove.
Ye + Heav'ns! from high the dewy nectar pour,
And in foft filence shed the kindly show'r!

The fick and weak the healing plant fhall aid,
+
From storms a fhelter, and from heat a fhade.

All crimes fhall cease, and ancient fraud fhall fail
Returning | Juftice lift aloft her scale;

Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend,

II

;

And white-rob'd Innocence from heav'n defcend.
Swift fly the years, and rise th' expected morn! 21
Oh spring to light, aufpicious Babe, be born!
See Nature haftes 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 ftablish it, with judgment, and with juftice, for ever and ever. P.

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

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

For thee, O Child, fhall the earth, without being tillel, produce her early offerings; winding ivy, mixed with Baccar, and Colocafia with smiling Acanthus. Thy cradle fball pour forth pleafing flowers about thee.

ISAIAK, Ch. xxxv. v. 1. The wilderness and the folitary place fhall 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 rife,
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,

IMITATION S.

25

30

With

fom as the rofe. Ch. ix. v. 13. The glory of Lebanon hall 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. 45.

Aggredere o magnos, aderit jam tempus, honores,
Cara deûm foboles, magnum Jovis incrementum
Ipfi lætitia voces ad fydera jactant
Intonfi montes, ipfæ jam carmina rupes,

Ipfa fonant arbufta, Deus, deus ille Menalca!

E. v.

ver.

62.

Ob 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 fhouts of joy to the ftars, 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 fhall be exalted, and every mountain and bill fhall be made low, and the crooked fhall be made ftrait, and the rough places plain. Chiv v. 23. Break forth into finging, ye mountains! O foreft, and every tree therein! for the Lord hath redeemed Ifrael. P.

* Ch. xxxv. v. 2.

† Ch. xl. v. 3, 4.

With heads declin'd, ye cedars homage pay;
Be fmooth ye rocks, ye rapid floods give way!
The Saviour comes! by ancient bards foretold :
Hear* him, ye deaf, and all ye blind, behold!
He from thick films fhall purge the visual ray,
And on the fightless eye-ball pour the day:
'Tis he th' obftructed paths of sound shall clear,
And bid new mufic charm th' unfolding ear:
The dumb fhall fing, the lame his crutch forego,
And leap exulting like the bounding roe.

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40

No figh, no murmur the wide world shall hear, 45
From ev'ry face he wipes off ev'ry tear.

In + adamantine chains shall Death be bound,
And Hell's grim Tyrant feel th' eternal wound.
As the good fhepherd tends his fleecy care,
Seeks freshest pasture and the purest air,
Explores the loft, the wand'ring fheep directs,
By day o'erfees them, and by night protects,
The tender lambs he raises in his arms,

Feeds from his hand, and in his bofom warms;
Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage,
The promis'd || father of the future age.
No more fhall § nation against nation rife,
Nor ardent warriours meet with hateful eyes,
Nor fields with gleaming steel be cover'd o'er,
The brazen trumpets kindle rage no more;
But useless lances into scythes fhall bend,
And the broad faulchion in a plow-share end.

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55

60

* Ch. xliii. v. 18.

v. S.

Ch. xl. v. 11.

Then

Ch. xxxv. v. 5, 6. † Ch. xxv.

Ch. ix. v. 6. § Ch.ii, v. 4.

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