NANCY
of
the
VALE
.
A
BALLAD
.
Nerine
Galatea
!
thymo
mihi
dulcior
Hyblae
!
Candidior
cygnis
,
hederâ
formosior
albâ
!
Virgil, Eclogues
[7.37-8](http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0690.phi001.perseus-lat1:7).
By
the
Same
.
THE
western
sky
was
purpled
o'er
With
every
pleasing
ray
:
And
flocks
reviving
felt
no
more
The
sultry
heats
of
day
:
When
from
an
hazle's
artless
bower
Soft-warbled
Strephon's
tongue
;
He
blest
the
scene
,
he
blest
the
hour
,
While
Nancy's
praise
he
sung
.
"
Let
fops
with
fickle
falshood
range
The
paths
of
wanton
love
,
Whilst
weeping
maids
lament
their
change
,
And
sadden
every
grove
:
But
endless
blessings
crown
the
day
,
I
saw
fair
Esham's
dale
!
And
every
blessing
find
its
way
To
Nancy
of
the
Vale
.
'Twas
from
Avona's
banks
the
maid
Diffus'd
her
lovely
beams
;
And
every
shining
glance
display'd
The
Naïd
of
the
streams
.
Soft
as
the
wild-duck's
tender
young
,
That
float
on
Avon's
tide
;
Bright
as
the
water-lily
,
sprung
,
And
glittering
near
its
side
.
Fresh
as
the
bordering
flowers
,
her
bloom
:
Her
eye
,
all
mild
to
view
;
The
little
halcyon's
azure
plume
Was
never
half
so
blue
.
Her
shape
was
like
the
reed
so
sleek
,
So
taper
,
strait
,
and
fair
;
Her
dimpled
smile
,
her
blushing
cheek
,
How
charming
sweet
they
were
!
Far
in
the
winding
Vale
retir'd
,
This
peerless
bud
I
found
;
And
shadowing
rocks
,
and
woods
conspir'd
To
fence
her
beauties
round
.
That
Nature
in
so
lone
a
dell
Should
form
a
Nymph
so
sweet
!
Or
Fortune
to
her
secret
cell
Conduct
my
wandering
feet
!
Gay
lordlings
sought
her
for
their
bride
,
But
she
would
ne'er
incline
:
"
Prove
to
your
equals
true
,
she
cry'd
,
"
As
I
will
prove
to
mine
.
"
'Tis
Strephon
,
on
the
mountain's
brow
,
"
Has
won
my
right
good
will
;
"
To
him
I
gave
my
plighted
vow
,
"
With
him
I'll
climb
the
hill
.
"
Struck
with
her
charms
and
gentle
truth
,
I
clasp'd
the
constant
fair
;
To
her
alone
I
gave
my
youth
,
And
vow
my
future
care
.
And
when
this
vow
shall
faithless
prove
,
Or
I
those
charms
forego
;
The
stream
that
saw
our
tender
love
,
That
stream
shall
cease
to
flow
.