Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/187

Past. VIII. Which underneath my Threshold I bestow; These Pawns, O sacred Earth! to me my Daphnis owe. As these were his, so mine is he; my Charms, Restore their lingring Lord to my deluded Arms.


 * These pois'nous Plants, for Magick use design'd,

(The noblest and the best of all the baneful Kind,) Old Mœris brought me from the Pontick Strand: And cull'd the Mischief of a bounteous Land. Smear'd with these pow'rful Juices, on the Plain, He howls a Wolf among the hungry Train: And oft the mighty Negromancer boasts, With these, to call from Tombs the stalking Ghosts: And from the roots to tear the standing Corn; Which, whirld aloft, to distant Fields is born. Such is the strength of Spells; restore, my Charms, My lingring Daphnis to my longing Arms.


 * Bear out these Ashes; cast 'em in the Brook;

Cast backwards o'er your head, nor turn your look: Since neither Gods, nor Godlike Verse can move, Break out ye smother'd Fires, and kindle smother'd Love. Exert your utmost pow'r, my lingring Charms, And force my Daphnis to my longing Arms.


 * See, while my last endeavours I delay,

The waking Ashes rise, and round our Altars play! Rh