26 THE ENGLISH GARDEN. 



" Hang amiable, Hefperian fables true, 



" If true, here only *." Thus, in Milton's phrafe 



Sublime, the youth his admiration pour'd, 



While paffing to the dome ; his next fhort flep 



Unveil'd the central ftatue : " Heav'ns ! juft Heav'ns," 465 



He cry'd, " tis my NERINA." " Thine, mad Youth ? 



" Forego the word," ALCANDER faid, and paus'd; 



His utterance fail'd ; a thoufand cluft'ring thoughts, 



And all of blackeft omen to his peace, 



Recoil'd upon his brain, deaden'd all fenfe, 470 



And at the ftatue's baft him headlong caft, 



A lifelefs load of being. Ye, whofe hearts 



Are ready at Humanity's foft call 



To drop the tear, I charge you weep not yet, 



But fearfully fufpend the bunding woe : 475 



NERINA'S felf appears; the further ifle 



She, fate-dire&ed, treads. Does me too faint ? 



Would Heav'n me could ! it were a happy fwoon 



Might foften her fixt form, more rigid now 



Thaa 



See Milton's Paradife Loft, book iv. ver. 248* &c. 



