The Mirrour — Concord, N.H., 1794-03-31 00:00:00, page 1

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CONCORD.«
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[Vol. 11. — Qjm. 75.].
DELPHIR,
OR THE"'
BENEVOLENT SHEPHERDESS.
rirtHE rosy daughter of the dawn, her pur-
X ple robe floating in the Ikies, had al
ready sprinkled the dewy fields with light,
when Delphira, pensive and impatient, await
ed her young Myrtillo in a bower interwoven
with jeffemme and woodbine. Reposing at
firft under the verdant Shelter, soon she rises,
midfeating frerfelf at the entrance, surveys
^,«eAtentivty the grove through which her
lover mtfjfrs, and once exclaims ' Myrtil
lo !' A^w moments after, she enters the
bower again, and with an accent of pity, of
ten repeats ' Poor Thyrfis! unhappy Thyr
fis !' 'Then reclining against a tree which
Supported the bower, she thus, with the
voice of melody, poured forth the feelings of
her heart.
" How sweetly do the morning beams
ftine on the wild roses of the wood ! They
gild the plumage of the lark, who soars aloft,
supported by the Zephyrs, and fills the air
wih his melodious notes. The sparkling
dew-drops seem to have revived the flowers.
Never did the meadows glow with more viv
id verdure. The feathered warblers in the
trees, the shepherds in the vallies, sing, in
concert, the charms of Nature, which seems,
as it were, to awake from a peaceful sleep.
And vet, this enchanting fight makes but a
faint impression upon my heart. How often
have I repaired to these scenes at the dawn of
day J When I beheld all the country adorn
ed by the spring, I filed tears of joy ! I sung,
with transport; the reviving beauties of Na
ture. My foul seemed to expand like the
blushing rose which the-sweet Zephyr cares
ses : But the languor of companion now un
fits me for these pleasures. No, no, I cannot
listen wrh joy to the songs of felicity with
which these scenes resound, while Thyrfis is
unhappy. Ah! how I long to fee Myrtillo !
I will communicate my design to him ; I will
fay to him, Thyrfis, once so happy, is now
rafooed to pover—tf^^me give him t^
Iwo : one is fufficient for me. I will ire
him also the half of the fruit I gather."=-
But, Myrtillo, thou loveft me ; thou art oft
en jealous ; thou mayest think, perhaps, that
Lovernot humanity, leads me to this adion.
• Thyrfis is handfome,' thou wilt fay, ' per
haps thou loveft him.'— Ah ! Myrtillo, it is
thee alone I love. I love thee more than the
Zephyr loves the flowers, than the bee loves
the Spring. It is not love, Myrtillo, that
inspires me with pity : it is Virtue. The
misfortunes which I myfelf have experienced
have taught me to comfort the affiieed.'
At this instant, Myrtillo, feeicing his shep
herdess, came singing through the weefr
Delphira knew the found of thayacrfher
heart palpitated with ajo^^M^ed with ten
der solicitude. fJUei^come,' foe exclaims;
'he is ii^he-foreft. Salute, ye tender flow
erfrrttn your fragrance, the lover I adore.
'"Beam upon him,.thou Sun, with benignant'
rays. Ye gentle Zephyrs, refrefh him with
reviving coolness ; and, ah! ye flowering
shrubs, ye embowering thickets, impede not
the steps of my beloved !'— At this instant,
Delphira descries her shepherd as he enters
the meadow that divides the sorest from the
bower. They run to meet each other. How
inexpressible their joy ! How tender, how
rapturous their embraces !,
• As they approached the bower, arm in
arm, Delphira said to herfelf, ' How shall I
speak to him ? I know not howto begin.'-
.JteJMQfed by ata&r fear : (he
made an effort : 'Hear me, Myrtillo ; thou
art one of rhe votaries of virtue : thy heart
is not unaffeded by the woes 'of thy fellow
creatures. We have said, a thousand times,
lihat nothing can equal the celestial joy which
Benevolence inspires. +I must hope^then,
that thou wilt fcfe@„th transport the op
portunity of r^ievingone of the neighbour,
ing shepherds. Thou dost not kQW, pest
haps what desolation the last storm hfflpread
over the plain. The torrent which ruihed
down from that mountain carried away be-
Yes ! I have heard of it : it was dreadful,
indeed ! Neither rocks, nor trees, nor cot
tages, could stand before that torrent ; the
ravages of the ferm wq ^^Wt™
consternation of the lhepherd^ --
'Alas !' interrupted Delphira, ™ this is
too true. The torrent has swept away the
trees and cottage of the unfortunate Thyrfis.
His once fruitful fields are now covered with
sand ; he has saved only a few iheep from the
inundation?
6 Poor Thyrfis! we muftaffift him, said
Myrtillo, in the firft emotion of compassion.
' Good,' thought Delphira, 'I will wf
you, Myrtillo, what I propose to do. Lev
us give up to Thyrfis the cottage which if
near mine ; I mean that which my deceafe^
brother left me. We will give him part d
our fruits, and some Iheep, which Ihall feel
in our meadows.'
Myrtillo Teemed to be musing : he looked
fteadfaftly at his shepherdess : ' Delphira 1)
said he, with an air of embarrassment, arid
he paused.
This single word, and the look that accom
panied it, began to distress the benevc&ft
maid ; 'Tell me, Myrtillo,' said she, 't^
me what you mean , .I
'Ah ! Delphira ! I fear'—and again
looked at the shepherdess in a manner in%
preffibly affeding.\
Delphira perceived the canfe of his appre^
henfions; but she would not seem to uridefr
stand it. ' What can'ft thou fear ?' said Oty ;'
'ls not a good adion the source of the molt
delightful sensations ? Are notthe pleafurq
of Virtue inexhaustible , Myrtillo, iny deA
friend, it is by beneficence alone that men
resemble the Gods,l
' Delphira ! perhaps Love'—4
'Myrtillo, I understand you. But be per!
sealy easy in that refpea. I appeal to th_#
Author of my Being, that Humanity elojrf
not Love, persuades me to this action. Q#
we behold the calamity of this young fh^,
herd with an eye of indifference r How latest
did he seem to enjoy the most perfe& felicity?
How charming was the situation of his cod
tage ! His meadows, watered by fuch.fid
streams, glowed with perpetual verdure. I#
flocks furnifhed him with abundance of mil, , 1
and with wool whiter than snow. The fru?r
of his trees were delicious; and the God
loaded him with blessings. Behold him n^~
plunged in misery. And how severely mui
he feel that misery, who till then had nevi
known misfortune ! Let us save this unsee
tunate man, Myrtillo : he is virtuous : B
did not deserve these misfortunes.'l
' How much I fuffer, my Delphira, in
'inftantl^con fenting to your withes., ^m
dent affeaion could induce me to comba in
myfelf the foggeftions of humanity. lam
certain, at prefect, that it is this divine prin
ciple alone which renders thee so sensible th
the misfortunes of Thyrfis. But, my dear
Delphira, Thyrfis is handsome : he dances
with inexpressible grace. His voice, his man
ner is enchanting. Thou knoweft that the
God Pan does not play more dehghtfiilhj^t
on the flute than Thyrfis, Tiwg-hiftlieard
him sometimes, perhaps„_»#en the vallies
have echoed withJfelßiightful harmony.—
Thyrfis ifL&lvord, is blessed with a variety of
tafotrf but I can boast of nothing but a
-""lieart that adores thee. Can'ft thou assure
thyfelf that the artradion of this shepherd
whom thou wilt so often fee, will never make
any impression upon thee ? Wilt thou con
tinue to behold my constancy and fidelity
with the fame pleasure r Is it not possible to
assist Thyrfis without giving him the cottage?
In a few days, my Delphira, we are to be
united in the bands of Hymen : why ffiould
we expose our happiness to the possibility of
danger ?'
' Myrtillo, if what I have related cannot
persuade thee, I can fay no more. At break
of day, in passing by the great walk, I heard
some deep sighs, and heavy groans. I ap
proached nearer, and, concealed- myfelf be
hind a thicket.lt was he himfelf—it was
Thyrfis, who appeared unable to support his
grief. He was prostrate on theearth ; his
head reclining on one of the trees which the
tempest had overthrown< His hair was quite
dishevelled. The roses no longer glowed in
bis cheeks, but his once sprightly counte
nance was pale and gloomy. His eyes were
fuffufed with tears ; he contemplated, in ftu
pidfilence, his ruined habitation. His head
appeared weak and languishing ; he fupport
' ed it, sometimes on one hand, sometimes on
the trunk of the tree. Some lambs were ly
ing by his fide : their heads were raised to
him, as if demanding their wonted food.
His dog was roving about : he conformed to
the situation of his master. When Thyrfis
groaned,the faithful animal seemed solicitous
to confoie him. He licked his hands Ihe
shewed every mark of fondnefs and concern,
I heard, at last, these words, which the shep
herd uttered with a melancholy voice.
' What have I done, ye gods to merit the
misfortunes 'hat overwhelm me ? Didl ever
forget to offer facrifices to you ? At the re
turn of spring,! presented you the earliest
flowers. When autumn came, I reserved the
fitft fruits for youl I have often crowned
your ftatnes with garlands, and bedewed ^our
alters with milk and wine. In whathfre I
MONDA Yl march gr, 1794.
^r @ o. Q 0 it ft I{- —, — ; —
. BY a. RUSSELL.
offended you ? I appeal to the goddess of
Wisdom. When did I ever avoid the oppor
tunity of doing a laudable action ? How oft
en have I repaired to the most obfeure re
treats, to fuccour piping poverty ! Often
have I employed my efforts to restore concord
and amity between contending shepherds. I
have supported the helpless and oppressed.
My tongue has never uttered the expressions
of calumny. My songs of praise have re
sounded in the plains. In a holy ecftacy my
foul has celebrated the bounties of omnipo
tw%fo piter, the author of universal Nature.
I have extolled the beauty of his works, the
order and harmony visible in all, -I have a
doted him in the wonders of the iky, the ver
dure of the woods,and the riches of the fields.
My intentions, like my songs, were ever pure,
And what is the recomperife I have received ?
Poverty, and its inseparable companions,
contempt, and misery, and grief.. Oh ! Su-u
preme justice, are these thy decrees ? The A
storm has ravaged tie plain ; it has destroy;
ed my habitation ; it has destroyed my ale
I know not where to take shelter. My mifl
fortunes are known to many : not one ■
had the humanity to offer me an afylifl
When I was in prosperity, my intimacy ■
courted : now lam forsaken by all, J
no .riend—l am undone-1 have not lorfl
live. I have no longer any fruit ; ant
th : s earth, watered by my tears, ihoulm
nifh me with it. Must Ibe obliged
my food of barbarous men, who refufe
who, in granting it, overwhelm
their contempt ? No! I must die—DeU
less dreadful to me than ignominy !' ■
A ' Dear Delphira !' exclaimed MyrU
' how much haft thou affected me ! Cm
let us go, and find the unhappy ThyU
Whata pi&ure of misery haft thou dram
thy foul is as beautiful as thy form : I fhofl
never deserve to call thee mine, if I did
obey its celestial didates. Henceforth, U
will render myfelf worthy of thee, by endeavU
curing to furp^fs thee, if possible, in benevo-U
lent artipos. Come, let us go to Thyrfis.V
We tyll'afri him, that he ihall mid,ate ]
able art thou, when thou art virtuous. The
Soaring lark loves the morning sky ; the gay
butterfly delights in the noon-tide fay ; and
I, Myrtillo, I love thee ftill.'—At these
word;, the fhepherdembraced her with tears
of jo^ ; and Delphira pressed him with ar
dotyfe/h^r bosom. They each exclaimed
- -with ecftacy, ' What charms does Love re
ceive from Virtue !' (To be continued.)
"^^===-!—===
Lateji Foreign Advices.
Events favourable to the French
in Austrian Flanders.<
66 PARIS, DEC. 29.
^r& Strtfurg, Dec. 23, the, •'write as follows.
* VICTORY! Vi&ory ! The en
emy bar been completely defeated !
Haguenau is our own. The 22 re
doubts of the enemy were carried ;
and 30 pieces of cannon are the fruits
of our conquest. This will be a de
cisive blow towards the relief of Lan-
In the Contention, the following
letter from Citizen Hoche, to the
Mibifter at War, was read.
" Head Quarters, at Perch, Dec. ±g.
" I could not yesterday give you
any details, being so very busy saod
am yet so. However, according to
the best reports 1 hive had, we have
taken 16 pieces of cannon, 24 tum
brils, from 450 to 500 prisoners, and
killed or wounded 500. The brisk
ness of the attack occasioned us only
a fall loss, of about 80 killed and
150 wounded.
66 The attack was made at daylight.
The troops came without breeches;
I desire you will make known to the
Convention and the Republick the
'names of the troops who behaved best,
the 3d regiment of Hussars, the 14th
Dragoons, the Caribineers, and the
sfth regiment of Infantry.
[Price ^^^^^H
wounded, beham
what is better,
in. I have A
night cue A
''fl
1
thatl
pofnion.u
troops of I
faded, witty
fioned@ comU
66 The Pro.
i fts, being fori
firion, took, ■
Weiffembour
fer, moving from Sultz, approached
near to Weiffembourg. The Repub
licans, with the whole mass of their
forces, estimated at 120, and accord
ing to others, at 150,000 men, not
giving our brave troops a moment's
rest, having continually annoyed them
for more than a month past, made
posterior to the 26th, a general and
irreftable attack on the centre of the
Combined Army, which unable to re
sist such a Severe shock, being more
over exhausted with fatigue, and in
want of amunition, were forced to re^
treat towards .Spire and Manheim:
The Duke of Brunswick, at the fame
time, was under the necessity of re
treating towards Mentz."
" Thus the liege of Landau is rais
ed. As it is supposed that the French
[Continued to the fourth page.}