William Jones

“ He hears, where'er he moves, the dreadful sound;
Check the deep vales, and Check the woods rebound.
No place remains: he sees the certain fate,
And yields his throne to ruin, and Checkmate.
A brighter blush o'erspreads the damsel's cheeks,
And mildly thus the conquer'd stripling speaks:
"A double triumph, Delia, hast thou won,
"By Mars protected, and by Venus' son;
"The first with conquest crowns thy matchless art,
"The second points those eyes at Daphnis' heart."
She smil'd; the nymphs and amorous youths arise,
And own that beauty gain'd the nobler prize. ”

“ He said: the willing nymph her place resign'd,
And sat at distance on the bank reclin'd.
Thus when Minerva call'd her chief to arms,
And Troy's high turret shook with dire alarms,
The Cyprian goddess wounded left the plain,
And Mars engag'd a mightier force in vain.
Strait Daphnis leads his squadron to the field;
(To Delia's arms 'tis ev'n a joy to yield.)
Each guileful snare, and subtle art he tries,
But finds his heart less powerful than her eyes:
Wisdom and strength superior charms obey;
And beauty, beauty, wins the long-fought day. ”

“ Then Delia thus: "Or rather, since we meet
By chance assembled in this cool retreat,
In artful contest let our warlike train
Move well-directed o'er the field preside:
No prize we need, our ardour to inflame;
We fight with pleasure, if we fight for fame."
The nymph consents: the maids and youths prepare
To view the combat, and the sport to share:
But Daphnis most approv'd the bold design,
Whom Love instructed, and the tuneful Nine. ”