Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/388

208 And now farewel, involv'd in Shades of Night, For ever I am ravish'd from thy sight. In vain I reach my feeble hands, to join In sweet Embraces; ah! no longer thine! She said, and from his Eyes the fleeting Fair Retir'd like subtile Smoke dissolv'd in Air; And left her hopeless Lover in despair. In vain, with folding Arms, the Youth assay'd To stop her flight, and strain the flying Shade: He prays, he raves, all Means in vain he tries, With rage inflam'd, astonish'd with surprise; But she return'd no more, to bless his longing Eyes. Nor wou'd th' Infernal Ferry-Man once more Be brib'd, to waft him to the farther shore. What shou'd He do, who twice had lost his Love? What Notes invent, what new Petitions move? Her Soul already was consign'd to Fate, And shiv'ring in the leaky Sculler sate. For sev'n continu'd Months, if Fame say true, The wretched Swain his Sorrows did renew; By Strymon's freezing Streams he sate alone, The Rocks were mov'd to pity with his moan: Trees bent their heads to hear him sing his Wrongs, Fierce Tygers couch'd around, and loll'd their fawning Tongues. So, close in Poplar Shades, her Children gone, The Mother Nightingale laments alone: Rh