But all was hufh'd, as Nature's self had sate
In dumb Compaffion, mourning Daphnis' Fate.
Fly fwift, ye plaintive Notes, and fpread my Woe,
Wide as his boundless Goodness wifh'd to flow.
When Daphnis died, Lo more the wanton Doves
In anxious Murmurs told their tender Loves:
Sad Philomel forbore her tuneful Moan,
Alarm'd at Sorrows greater than her own.

The Savages forgot their starving Brood,

[Food.

The Swains their Flocks, the Flocks their verdant

Ev'n rugged Forests did their Grief declare;

Their Leaves were scatter'd, and their Branches bare.
And lo! the gloomy Skies relent in Show'rs;
A deadly damp o'er-fpreads the crimson Flow'rs.
The Face of Nature, gay before, appears
With Sorrows clouded, and o'erwhelm'd with Tears.
Fly swift, ye plaintive Notes, and fpread my Woe,
Wide as his boundless Goodness wifh'd to flow.
Ah! where does my distracted Fancy rove?
Nor Plains beneath lament, nor Skies above.
Soon as the Spring returns, the western Breeze
Shall with new Glories crown the blooming Trees.
Soon fhall the Meads in vernal Pomp appear,
And smiling Plenty grace the infant Year.
Soon fhall the Flow'rs in fweet Confufion spread
Their fragrant Scents, as Daphnis were not dead.
Whilft I for ever feed my fwelling Grief;
And Seasons, as they change, bring no Relief.
Fly swift, ye plaintive Notes, and spread my Woe,
Wide as his boundless Goodness wish'd to flow.
But all in vain does my fond Mufe contend
To fing the matchless Virtues of her Friend.
As well might her Complaints his Body raise,
As can her loudeft Efforts reach his Praise.

Whether,

Whether, as our Author fays, his Academical Studies check'd his poetical Flights, and he rejected thefe Trifles for the more folid Entertainment of Philofophy, I know not; but I could meet with nothing more of this kind. I have feen indeed a poetical Epiftle fent from School to Peniston Powney, Efq; but as this was wrote occafionally, and scarce intelligible to any, but those who were then at Eton, I have omitted it. So to return.

In the Year 1720, Mr. Littleton was recalled to Eton as an Affiftant in the School. In which Office he was honoured and beloved by all the young Gentlemen that came under his Direction, and fo esteem'd by the worthy Provost and Fellows, that, upon the Death of the Reverend Mr. Malcher in the Year 1727, they elected him into their Society, and prefented him to the Living of Maple-Derham in Oxfordshire. He then married Frances, one of the Daughters of Barnham Good, Efq; a Lady endow'd with all the Accomplishments that can render the marriage State happy. June the 9th, 1730, he was appointed Chaplain in Ordinary to to their Ma

On

jefties:

;

jefties; and in the fame Year took his Doctor of Laws Degree at Cambridge. But, tho' an admired Preacher and an excellent Scholar, he feems to have been as little ambitious of appearing in Print, as the great Mr. Hales, formerly of the fame College; not having printed any thing, that I know of, in his Life-time and I am apt to think, from what I have heard, that, like Him too, he never penn'd any thing, until he needs muft*. He died of a Fever in the Year 1734, and was buried in his own Parish-Church of Maple-Derham ; leaving behind him a Widow and three Daughters; for whofe Benefit, under the Favour and Encouragement of her late Majesty Queen Caroline, these Discourses were first printed: Which, Courteous Reader, without detaining you any longer, I shall now leave to speak for Themselves.

* See the Life of Mr. Hales, prefixed to his Golden Remains.

CON

ECCLES. vii. 14.

In the Day of Prosperity rejoyce.

I.

HE great and wife King, who was the SERM. Author of thefe Words, has taught us elsewhere, that to every Thing there is a Seafon, and a Time for every Purpose under Heaven. Accordingly, he points out, in the Words before us, the proper Season for the Exercise of our Joy. It is the Day of Profperity; by which we are to understand, either, Firft, all profperous and good Times in general; or Secondly, in particular, thofe Times or Seafons, when any private or VOL. I.

B

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