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THERE is a gentle nymph not far from hence, | |
| That with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream. | |
| Sabrina is her name, a virgin pure; | |
| Whilom she was the daughter of Locrine, | |
| That had the sceptre from his father Brute. | 5 |
| She, guiltless damsel, flying the mad pursuit | |
| Of her enragéd step-dame Guendolen, | |
| Commended her fair innocence to the flood, | |
| That stayed her flight with his cross-flowing course. | |
| The water-nymphs, that in the bottom played, | 10 |
| Held up their pearléd wrists and took her in, | |
| Bearing her straight to aged Nereus’ hall; | |
| Who, piteous of her woes, reared her lank head, | |
| And gave her to his daughters to imbathe | |
| In nectared lavers, strewed with asphodel: | 15 |
| And through the porch and inlet of each sense | |
| Dropped in ambrosial oils, till she revived, | |
| And underwent a quick immortal change, | |
| Made goddess of the river: still she retains | |
| Her maiden gentleness, and oft at eve | 20 |
| Visits the herds along the twilight meadows, | |
| Helping all urchin blasts, and ill-luck signs | |
| That the shrewd meddling elf delights to make, | |
| Which she with precious vialled liquors heals: | |
| For which the shepherds at their festivals | 25 |
| Carol her goodness loud in rustic lays, | |
| And throw sweet garland wreaths into her stream | |
| Of pansies, pinks, and gaudy daffodils: | |
| And, as the old swain said, she can unlock | |
| The clasping charm, and thaw the numbing spell, | 30 |
| If she be right invoked in warbled song; | |
| For maidenhood she loves, and will be swift | |
| To aid a virgin, such as was herself, | |
| In hard-besetting need; this will I try, | |
| And add the power of some adjuring verse. | 35 |
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Song
Sabrina fair, | |
| Listen where thou art sitting | |
| Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave, | |
| In twisted braids of lilies knitting | |
| The loose train of thy amber-dropping hair: | 40 |
| Listen for dear honor’s sake, | |
| Goddess of the silver lake; | |
| Listen, and save! | |
| Listen, and appear to us, | |
| In name of great Oceanus; | 45 |
| By the earth-shaking Neptune’s mace, | |
| And Tethys’ grave majestic pace; | |
| By hoary Nereus’ wrinkled look, | |
| And the Carpathian wizard’s hook; | |
| By scaly Triton’s winding shell, | 50 |
| And old soothsaying Glaucus’ spell; | |
| By Leucothea’s lovely hands, | |
| And her son that rules the strands; | |
| By Thetis’ tinsel-slippered feet, | |
| And the songs of sirens sweet; | 55 |
| By dead Parthenope’s dear tomb, | |
| And fair Ligea’s golden comb, | |
| Wherewith she sits on diamond rocks, | |
| Sleeking her soft alluring locks; | |
| By all the nymphs that nightly dance | 60 |
| Upon thy streams with wily glance; | |
| Rise, rise, and heave thy rosy head, | |
| From thy coral-paven bed, | |
| And bridle in thy headlong wave, | |
| Till thou our summons answered have. | 65 |
| Listen, and save! | |
| |
SABRINA rises, attended by Water-nymphs, and sings.
By the rushy-fringéd bank, | |
| Where grows the willow, and the osier dank, | |
| My sliding chariot stays, | |
| Thick set with agate, and the azurn sheen | 70 |
| Of turkis blue, and emerald green | |
| That in the channel strays; | |
| Whilst from off the waters fleet | |
| Thus I set my printless feet | |
| O’er the cowslip’s velvet head, | 75 |
| That bends not as I tread: | |
| Gentle swain, at thy request, | |
| I am here. |
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