[8] Virg. Ecl. vi. 83:
Audiit Eurotas, jussitque ediscere lauros.—Pope.
Admitting that a river gently flowing may be imagined a sensible being listening to a song, I cannot enter into the conceit of the river's ordering his laurels to learn the song. Here all resemblance to anything real is quite lost. This however is copied literally by Pope.—Lord Kames.
[9] There is some connection implied between the "kind rains" and the "willows learning the song," but I cannot trace the idea.
[10] Virg. Ecl. v. 41:
mandat fieri sibi talia Daphnis.
[11] Rowe's Ambitious Step-Mother:
And with fresh roses strew thy virgin urn.—Steevens.
[12] Ver. 23, 24, 25. Virg. Ecl. v. 40, 42:
inducite fontibus umbras.... Et tumulum facite, et tumulo superaddite carmen.—Pope.