we read in the tenth eclogue, Omnia vincit amor. Therefore, according to fables, Pan is said to have been in love with the nymph Syrinx, who being pursued by him, implored the aid of the earth, and was turned into a reed, which Pan, to sooth his passion, formed into a pipe." Servius.-Pan was esteemed by the ancients to be the god of the shepherds, and to preside over rural affairs. Herodotus, in his Euterpe, tells us that the people of Mendes, in Egypt, esteemed Pan as one of the eight deities, whom they looked upon as prior to the twelve: that they represented him as having the face and legs of a goat: that they also worship all goats, especially the males; that both Pan and a goat are called Mendes in the Egyptian language; and that some abominable rites were used in this goat-worship.

Pan primus calamos, &c.] Thus he is mentioned by Bion, as the inventor of the shepherd's pipe. The fable of Pan being in love with the nymph Syrinx, who fled from him till she came to a river that stopped her flight, where she was turned into reeds, is related in the first book of Ovid's Metamorphoses. This poet tells us, that Pan, grasping his arms full of reeds instead of

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the nymph, stood sighing by the river side; where observing the reeds, as they were moved by the wind, to make an agreeable sound, he cut some of them, and joining them together with wax, formed a shepherd's pipe.

Est mihi disparibus, &c.] Having represented the excellence of music, the shepherd now endeavours to allure Alexis, by setting forth the great value of the pipe which he possessed, and by a present of two beautiful kids. The shepherd's pipe was composed of seven reeds, unequal in length, and of different tones, joined together with wax. The figure of it is to be seen in several monuments of antiquity. Theocritus, indeed, mentions a pipe of nine reeds; but seven was the usual number.

Cicutis.] Cicuta is commonly thought to be hemlock. It is not to be supposed that they ever made their pipes of hemlock, which is very offensive. It is probably used for any hollow stalk in general.

Damætas.] Catrou is of opinion that Virgil, under the name of Damotas, means the poet Lucretius, who was the reformer of the hexameter verse. This flute, says he, is a legacy which Virgil had left him by Lucretius,

who died the very day that Virgil put on his manly gown; that is, about the time when our author began his most early poems. But Lucretius was not a writer of Bucolicks; and it cannot be supposed that Virgil, at the age of sixteen or seventeen years, could be thought of consequence enough to be a successor to a poet of so established a reputation as Lucretius.

Nec tuta valle.] He augments the value of these kids, by telling Alexis in what a dangerous place he had found them. It was in a valley, probably between two rocks, of difficult and dangerous access; or perhaps exposed to wild beasts or robbers.

Reperti.] La Cerda understands this word to express that these kids had been lost, and found again. Dr. Trapp is earnest for this interpretation, because he says they must have been stolen by Corydon, if they had not been his own before; and therefore ought to be restored to the right owner. But we may suppose them to have

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been wild kids; and it is plain that they were taken from the dam, because they are put to a sheep to nurse.

Sparsis etiam nunc pellibus albo.] "Kids at first have white spots, which alter and lose their beauty afterwards. Therefore he says, I reserve two kids for you, which have not yet lost the white spots out of their skin." Servius.

Huc ades, &c.] The shepherd being in doubt, whether these presents of the pipe and kids are sufficient to engage Alexis, renews his invitation by offering him a present of flowers, to be gathered by the hand of a fair nymph, to which he adds some fruits, which he proposes to gather himself, and intermix with leaves of the finest odour

Pallentes violas.] The Romans called stock-gilliflowers viola alba. It is, therefore, plain that they comprehended both them and common violets under the general name of viola. It is probable also, that when they intended to express any one particular sort, they added some epithet to distinguish it. Thus

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It does not grow wild in England.

Casia.] "Daphne creorum, a species of mezereon." Sprengel.

Intexens.] These flowers and herbs were to be woven into a garland. It was a custom amongst the ancients to present such garlands to those whom they loved.

Caltha.] It is hardly possible to determine certainly what plant the poets meant by their caltha. We find, by the epithet luteola in this place, that it had a yellow flower; which is confirmed also by Columella. Therefore it may very well be our common marigold, according to the general opinion.

Cana legam tenera lanugine mala.] The fruits here mentioned are almost universally affirmed to be quinces, which, without doubt, have a hoary down, and therefore so far agree with the poet's description. The only objection I have to this interpretation is, that the quince is of so austere a taste, that the shepherd could not think of offering it to a young palate. Nor do I find that it is at all better in those warmer climates; or that the Greeks or Romans used to eat it raw and it cannot be supposed that Corydon spake of dressing it. It seems more probable, that it was some other more delicious fruit. Pliny speaks of a sort of downy ap. ples, which he calls mala lanata: