Palladium Of Virginia And The Pacific Monitor

Daphnis: an Idyl. Translated from the German of Solomon Gessner

On a fair summer night, Daphnis stole to the cottage of his love. True love can seldom sleep. The wide expanse of heaven was strewed with glittering stars. The moon shone softly through the dark shades of the forest. All the country round was still and gloomy. All nature seemed hushed in repose. Except some sparkles of the torch light, which played upon the purling brooks, and here and there a glow-worm, wandering in the dark; all other lights were out.
Daphnis, in a sweet melancholy, seated himself before the cottage of his mistress. His eyes glanced on the window of the chamber where she sleeps. The window was partly open to the soft gales of the night, and to the gentle ray of the moon. Daphnis, in a low voice, thus sang:
May thy slumbers be tranquil, O my beloved! and refreshing as the morning breeze. Rest gently on thy couch, as the drops of dew rest upon the leaves of the lily, when no breath of wind agitates the flowers. How soft are the slumbers of innocence!
Descend from heaven, sweet dreams! you that attend the lovely train of sports and mirth! descend on Cynthia's rays, and hover over my love. Present to her mind nought but smiling plains, green pastures, and milk white flocks. Let her think she hears a concert of the sweetest flutes, resounding in the solitary valley, as if it were Apollo's self that played. May she seem to bathe in some limpid stream, beneath the shade of jessamines and myrtle, beheld by none except the birds that fly from tree to tree, and sing for her alone! Let her seem to sport among the graces: let them call her their companion and their sister; and may they together wander in the most delightful fields, gathering flowers; the garlands made by Phyllis being worn by the graces; those made by them, being worn by her.
Lovely dreams! conduct her to the groves, where flowers are interwoven with the verdure. There, let the little loves pursue and play around her, as bees about the new blown rose. Let one of the lovely group settle at her feet, bearing a fragrant apple; while another presents her with transparent grapes and others wave the flowers with their wings, to diffuse around her the sweetest odours.
Within the grove, let the Paphian god appear; but without his arrows or his quiver; lest he alarm her timid innocence. Let him be adorned only with the charms of his enchanting youth. Sweet dreams! deign at last to present to her my image. Let her see me languish at her feet, and, with downcast eyes, say, in faltering accents, that for love of her I die. Never, O never, yet have I dared to tell it her. Ah! at this dream, may a sigh heave her bosom! May she then blush, and smile upon me! Why am not I as beautiful as Apollo, when he guarded the flocks? Why are not my songs as melodious as those of the nightingale? Why have I not every perfection to deserve her love?
Thus sang the shepherd, and then, by the light of the moon, returned to his cottage. Dreams of hope beguiled the remaining hours of night. At break of day, he led his flock by the side of the hill, where the cottage of Phyllis stood. His sheep went slowly on, browsing on the sides of the path. Feed on, my sheep; feed on my tender lambs; there is no sweeter pasture. The verdure, on which Phyllis casts her eyes, becomes more pleasing, and the flowers are eager to adorn the path she treads...
While he thus spoke, Phyllis appeared at her window. The morning sun brightened her beauteous countenance. He saw that she regarded him with a gentle smile: he even saw a vivid blush glow on her cheeks. With lingering steps, and a heart that throbbed with joy, he passed before her. She saluted him with a lovely air; and her looks, complacent, still pursued him—for she had listened to his midnight song.