1791' LITERARY INTELLIGENCER. 225 



how different was the caG;. Kothing now ftruck the 

 ear, but the voice of mourning : and what met the eye 

 was the weeping virgins. They were not, as formerly, 

 cheerfully alTociating together : but wandering by them- 

 felves in a very retired path, to give vent to their for- 

 row. There is a beauty and pathos in this contiaft, 

 that cannot fail of touching the heart. That love was 

 the great caufe of this foriow, though it. be not ex- 

 prefaly mentioned in this Aanz,a, is abundantly evident 

 from what is faid in the next. 



II. 



At buchts in the morning, 

 Nae blyth, &:c. 



The fame contrail is carried on in this ftanza. The 

 firll defcribed their going to the bucbts ; this what is 

 done at their arrival there. The lalTes are faid to be 

 lonely, not only in refpect of their fallen lovers ; but in 

 refpeft of each other. They have no reiifli for fociety ; 

 they feek for folitude. Even when engaged together in 

 the fame employment of milking the ewes, not a word 

 is exchanged ; nothing heard but fighing and fobbing. 

 They feem defirous to retire as ioon as poffible j and 

 they go away, not in a company, but one by one. " Ilk 

 " cine lifts her legb/iJ'^ 



III. 



At e'en in the gloming, 



Nae fwankies, Stc. 



In this ftanza, v.'e have another inftanceof their grief ; 

 their not partaking of any of their amufements. Here 

 too tlie contrail is preferved, and the imagery introduc- 

 ed limple and beautiful. We are pleafed to fee inno- 

 cent amufements going on after the labours of,, the day. 

 Even the diverfio.is of children conltitute g gay and 

 pleafant fcene. It becomes more interefting, whpn we 

 iuppofe the perfons engaged, fo far advanced, as that 

 |ove can bear a part. But how much more interefting 



Vol. I. f Ff 



