For they in gaping wonderment abound, And lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom And think, no doubt, she been the greatest Shall be erewhile in arid bundles bound, wight on ground!

To lurk amid the labors of her loom,

And crown her kerchiefs clean with mickle Albeit ne flattery did corrupt her truth,

rare perfume. Ne pompous title did debauch her ear; Goody, good-woman, gossip, n’aunt, forsooth, And here trim rosemarine, that whilom Or dame, the sole additions she did hear;

crowned Yet these she challenged, these she held right The daintiest garden of the proudest peer, dear;

Ere, driven from its envied site, it found Ne would esteem him act as mought behove, A sacred shelter for its branches here; Who should not honored eld with these re- Where edged with gold its glittering skirts vere;

appear. For never title yet so mean could prove, Oh wassel days! O customs meet and well ! But there was eke a mind which did that Ere this was banished from its lofty sphere! title love.

Simplicity then sought this humble ceil,

Nor ever would she more with thane and One ancient hen she took delight to feed,

lordling dwell. The plodding pattern of the busy dame; Which, ever and anon, impelled by need,

Here oft the dame, on Sabbath's decent eve, Into her school, begirt with chickens, came! Hymned such psalms as Sternhold forth did Such favor did her past deportment claim;

mete. And if Neglect had lavished on the ground If winter 't were, she to her hearth did Fragment of bread, she would collect the same; cleave, For well she knew, and quaintly could ex- But in her garden found a summer-seat; pound,

Sweet melody! to hear her then repeat What sin it were to waste the smallest crumb How Israel's sons, beneath a foreign king, she found.

While taunting foemen did a song entreat,
All for the nonce untuning every string,

Uphung their useless lyres—small heart had Herbs, too, she knew, and well of each could

they to sing. speak, That in her garden sipped the silvery dew,

For she was just, and friend to virtuous lore, Where no vain flower disclosed a gaudy And passed much time in truly virtuous deed; streak;

And in those elfin ears would oft deplore But herbs for use and physic not a few,

The times when truth by Popish rage did Of grey renown, within these borders grew;

bleed, The tufted basil, pun-provoking thyme,

And tortuous death was rue devotion's Fresh balm, and marygold of cheerful hue,

meed, The lowly gill, that never dares to climb; And more I fain would sing, disdaining here that nould on wooden image place her creed;

And simple Faith in iron chains did mourn, to rhyme.

And lawny saints in smouldering flames did

burn; Yet euphrasy may not be left unsung, Ah, dearest Lord, forefend thilk days should That gives dim eyes to wander leagues e'er return!

around; And pungent radish, biting infant's tongue ; In elbow-chair, like that of Scottish stem And plantain ribbed, that heals the reaper's By the sharp tooth of cankering eld defaced, wound;

In which, when he receives his diadem, And marjoram sweet, in shepherd's posie Our sovereign prince and liefest liege is found;

placed,

THE SCHOOL MISTRESS.

151

The matron sate, and some with rank she She meditates a prayer to set him free; graced,

Nor gentle pardon could this dame deny, (The source of children's and of courtiers' | (If gentle pardon could with dames agree) pride!)

To her sad grief, which swells in either eye, Redressed affronts, for vile affronts there And wrings her so that all for pity she could passed ;

die. And warned them not the fretful to deride, Bat love each other dear, whatever them No longer can she now her shrieks command, betide.

And hardly she forbears, through awful fear,

To rushen forth, and with presumptuous Right well she knew each temper to descry; hand To thwart the proud, and the submiss to To stay harsh justice in his mid-career. raise ;

On thee she calls, on thee, her parent dear! Some with vile copper-prize exalt on high, (Ahl too remote to ward the shameful blow!) And some entice with pittance small of She sees no kind domestic visage near; praise ;

And soon a flood of tears begins to flow, And other some with baleful sprig she frays; And gives a loose at last to unavailing woe. E'en absent, she the reins of power doth hold, While with quaint arts the giddy crowd she But ah! what pen his piteous plight may sways;

trace ? Forewarned if little bird their pranks behold, Or what device his loud laments explain? 'T will whisper in her ear and all the scene The form uncouth of his disguised face ? unfold,

The pallid hue that dyes his looks amain ? Lo! now with state she utters the command;

The plenteous shower that does his cheek

distain ? Eftsoons the urchins to their tasks repair; Their books of stature small they take in When he in abject wise implores the dame,

Ne hopeth aught of sweet reprieve to gain ; hand,

Or when from high she levels well her aim, Which with pellucid horn secured are,

And through the thatch his cries each falling To save from fingers wet the letters fair;

stroke proclaim.
The work so gay, that on their back is seen,
St. George's high achievements doth declare;
On which thilk wight that has y-gazing been,

The other tribe, aghast, with sore dismay, Kens the forthcoming rod-unpleasing sight,

Attend, and con their tasks with mickle care;

By turns, astonied, every twig survey,
I ween!

And from their fellow's hateful wounds beAh luckless he, and born beneath the beam

ware, Of evil star! it irks me while I write;

Knowing, I wis, how each the same may As erst the bard by Mulla's silver stream,

share, Oft as he told of deadly, dolorous plight,

Till fear has taught them a performance meet, Sighed as he sung, and did in tears indite.

And to the well-known chest the dame reFor, brandishing the rod, she doth begin

pair, To loose the brogues, the stripling's late de- Whence oft with sugared cates she doth them light!

greet, And down they drop; appears his dainty And ginger-bread y-rare ; now, certes, doubly skin,

sweet. Fair as the furry coat of whitest ermilin.

See to their seats they hie with merry glee, O ruthful scene! when from a nook obscure, And in beseemly order sitten there; His little sister doth his peril see;

All but the wight of bum y-galied; he All playful as she sate, she grows demure; Abhorreth bench, and stool, and fourm, and She finds full soon her wonted spirits flee;

chair

(This hand in mouth y-fixed, that rends his Or bard sublime, if bard may e'er be so, hair ;)

As Milton, Shakespeare, names that ne'er And eke with snubs profound, and heaving shall die ! breast,

Though now he crawl along the ground so Convulsions intermitting, doth declare

low, His grievous wrong, his dame's unjust behest; Nor weeting how the Muse should soar on And scorns her offered love, and shuns to be high, caressed.

Wisheth, poor starveling elf! his paper kite

may fly. His face besprent with liquid crystal shines, His blooming face that seems a purple flower, Which low to earth its drooping head de- And this perhaps, who, censuring the design, clines,

Low lays the house which that of cards doth

build, All smeared and sullied by a vernal shower. O the hard bosoms of despotic power!

Shall Dennis be! if rigid Fate incline, All, all but she, the author of his shame,

And many an epic to his rage shall yield; All, all but she, regret this mournful hour;

And many a poet quit th' Aoniau field, Yet hence the youth, and hence the flower And, soured by age, profound he shall apshall claim,

pear, If so I deem aright, transcending worth and As he who now with 'sdainful fury thrilled

Surveys mine work; and levels many a sneer, fame.

And furls his wrinkly front, and cries, “What

stuff is here?" Behind some door, in melancholy thought, Mindless of food, he, dreary caitiff! pines; Ne for his fellows' joyaunce careth aught, And now Dan Phoebus gains the middle skie, But to the wind all merriment resigns; And Liberty unbars her prison-door; And deems it shame if he to peace inclines; And like a rushing torrent out they fly, And many a sullen look askance is sent, And now the grassy cirque had covered o'er Which for his dame's annoyance he designs; With boisterous revel-rout and wild uproar; And still the more to pleasure him she's bent, A thousand ways in wanton rings they run; The more doth he perverse, her haviour past Heaven shield their short-lived pastimes, ] resent.

implore!

For well may freedom erst so dearly won, Ah me! how much I fear lest pride it be !

Appear to British elf more gladsome than But if that pride it be, which thus inspires, Beware, ye dames, with nice discernment see, Ye quench not too the sparks of noble fires.

Enjoy, poor imps! enjoy your sportive trade, Ah! better far than all the Muses' lyres,

And chase gay flies, and cull the fairest flowAll coward arts, is valor's generous heat;

ers, The firm fixt breast which fit and right re- For when my bones in grass-green sods are quires,

laid; Like Vernon's patriot soul! more justly great For never may ye taste more careless hours Than craft that pimps for ill or flowery false In knightly castles, or in ladies' bowers. deceit.

O vain to seek delight in earthly thing!

But most in courts where proud Ambition Yet nursed with skill, what dazzling fruits towers; appear!

Deluded wight! who weens fair peace can E'en now sagacious Foresight points to show spring A little bench of heedless bishops here, Beneath the pompous dome of kesar or of and there a chancellor in embryo,

the sun.

king.

THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD.

153

See in each sprite some various bent appear!
These rudely carol most incondite lay;

THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD. Those sauntering on the green, with jocund leer

Now ponder well, you parents dear,
Salute the stranger passing on his way; The words which I shall write;
Some builden fragile tenements of clay; A doleful story you shall hear,
Some to the standing lake their courses bend, In time brought forth to light:
With pebbles smooth at duck and drake to A gentleman, of good account,
play;

In Norfolk lived of late,
Thilk to the huxter's savory cottage tend, Whose wealth and riches did surmount
In pastry kings and queens th' allotted mite Most men of his estate.
to spend.

Sore sick he was, and like to die,
Here, as each season yields a different store, No help then he could have;
Each season's stores in order ranged been; His wife by him as sick did lie,
Apples with cabbage-net y-covered o'er, And both possessed one grave.
Galling full sore th’unioneyed wight, are No love between these two was lost,
seen;

Each was to other kind;
And goose-b’rie clad in livery red or green; In love they lived, in love they died,
And here of lovely dye, the catharine pear, And left two babes behind:
Fine pear! as lovely for thy juice, I ween:
O may no wight e'er pennyless come there,

The one a fine and pretty boy,
Lest smit with ardent love he pine with

Not passing three years old hopeless care !

The other a girl, more young than he,

And made in beauty's mould.
See! cherries here, ere cherries yet abound, The father left his little son,
With thread so white in tempting posies ty'd, As plainly doth appear,
Scattering like blooming maid their glances When he to perfect age should come,
round,

Three hundred pounds a year
With pampered look draw little eyes aside ;
And must be bought, though penury betide. And to his little daughter Jane
The plumb all azure and the nut all brown,

Five hundred pounds in gold,
And here each season do those cakes abide, To be paid down on marriage-day,
Whose honored names th' inventive city

Which might not be controlled : own,

But if the children chance to die Rendering through. Britain's isle Salopia's

Ere they to age should come, praises known.

Their uncle should possess their wealth,

For so the will did run.
Admired Salopia! that with venial pride
Eyes her bright form in Severn's ambient “ Now, brother,” said the dying man,
wave,

"Look to my children dear; Famed for her loyal cares in perils tried, Be good unto my boy and girl, Her daughters lovely, and her striplings No friends else I have here: brave:

To God and you I do commend Ah! midst the rest, may flowers adorn his My children, night and day; grave,

But little while, be sure, we have,
Whose art did first these dulcet cates display! Within this world to stay.
A motive fair to Learning's imps he gave,
Who cheerless o'er her darkling region stray ;

You must be father and mother both,

And uncle, all in one; Till Reason's morn arise, and light them on

God knows what will become of them their way.

When I am dead and gone."

WILLIAM SHEXSTONE.