Such deeds alone as pride and pomp Near to this dome is found a patch so Who boasts unruly brats with birch to Her cap, far whiter than the driven snow, Emblem right meet of decency does yield; tame; They grieven sore, in piteous durance pent, Awed by the pow'r of this relentless dame; And oft-times, on vagaries idly bent, For unkempt hair, or task unconn'd, are sorely shent. And all in sight doth rise a birchen tree, Which learning near her little dome did stow; Whilom a twig of small regard to see, Tho' now so wide its waving branches flow; And work the simple vassals mickle woe; For not a wind might curl the leaves that blew, But their limbs shudder'd and their pulse beat low; Her apron dyed in grain, as blue, I trow, As is the harebell that adorns the field: And in her hand, for sceptre, she does wield Tway birchen sprays; with anxious fear entwined, With dark distrust, and sad repentance fill'd; And steadfast hate, and sharp affliction join'd, And fury uncontroll'd and chastisement unkind. Few but have kenn'd, in semblance meet portray'd, The childish faces of old Eol's train; And as they look'd they found their horror Libs, Notus, Auster; these in frowns ar Were the stern god to give his slaves the rein? Fragment of bread, she would collect the same, pound, And were not she rebellious breasts to For well she knew, and quaintly could exquell, And were not she her statutes to main- What sin it were to waste the smallest tain, The cot no more, I ween, were deem'd the cell, Where comely peace of mind and decent order dwell. crumb she found. Herbs, too, she knew, and well of each could speak That in her garden sipp'd the silv'ry dew, A russet stole was o'er her shoulders Where no vain flow'r disclosed a gaudy And, sooth to say, her pupils, ranged The lowly gill, that never dares to climb; And more I fain would sing, disdaining here to rhyme. around, Through pious awe, did term it passing Or dame, the sole additions she did And lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom hear; Shall be erewhile in arid bundles bound, Yet these she challenged, these she held To lurk amidst the labors of her loom, And crown her kerchiefs clean with mickle rare perfume. right dear: Ne would esteem him act as mought be hove, Who should not honor'd eld with these And here trim rosemarine, that whilom revere; For never title yet so mean could prove, But there was eke a mind which did that title love. One ancient hen she took delight to feed, The plodding pattern of the busy dame, Which ever and anon, impell'd by need, Into her school, begirt with chickens, came; Such favor did her past deportment claim; crown'd The daintiest garden of the proudest peer, Ere, driven from its envied site, it found skirts appear. Oh, wassel days! oh, customs meet and well! Ere this was banish'd from his lofty sphere: Simplicity then sought this humble cell, And, if neglect had lavish'd on the Nor ever would she more with thane and ground lordling dwell. Here oft the dame, on Sabbath's decent Some with vile copper prize exalt on high, And some entice with pittance small of eve, For she was just, and friend to virtuous Their books of stature small they take in lore, hand, Which with pellucid horn securèd are; To save from fingers wet the letters fair: The work so gay, that on their back is seen, St. George's high achievements does declare; And tortuous death was true devotion's On which thilk wight that has y-gazing been, Kens the forthcoming rod, unpleasing sight, meed, And simple faith in iron chains did mourn, That nould on wooden image placed her creed, And lawny saints in smould'ring flames did burn; I ween! Ah, luckless he, and born beneath the beam Of evil star! it irks me whilst I write! Ah! dearest Lord, forfend thilk days should As erst the bard by Mulla's silver stream, e'er return! In elbow-chair, like that of Scottish stem, By the sharp tooth of cank'ring eld defaced, In which, when he receives his diadem, Our sov'reign prince and liefest liege is placed, Oft, as he told of deadly dolorous plight, Sigh'd' as he sung, and did in tears indite. For, brandishing the rod, she doth begin To loose the brogues, the stripling's late delight! And down they drop; appears his dainty skin, The matron sate; and some with rank Fair as the furry coat of whitest ermilin. she graced (The source of children's and of cour tiers' pride), Redress'd affronts, for vile affronts there pass'd, And warn'd them not the fretful to deride, But love each other dear, whatever them betide. Right well she knew each temper to descry: To thwart the proud, and the submiss to raise; Oh, ruthful scene! when from a nook ob scure His little sister doth his peril see: All playful as she sate, she grows demure; She finds full soon her wonted spirits flee; She meditates a pray'r to set him free; Nor gentle pardon could this dame deny (If gentle pardon could with dames agree) To her sad grief that swells in either eye, And wrings her so that all for pity she could die. No longer can she now her shrieks command; And hardly she forbears, through awful fear, To rushen forth, and, with presumptuous hand, To stay hard justice in its mid career. On thee she calls, on thee her parent dear! (Ah! too remote to ward the shameful blow!) She sees no kind domestic visage near, And soon a flood of tears begins to flow; And gives a loose at last to unavailing woe. All but the wight of bum y-gallèd; he Abhorreth bench, and stool, and form, and chair (This hand in mouth y-fix'd, that rends his hair); And eke with snubs profound, and heaving breast, Convulsions intermitting! does declare His grievous wrongs; his dame's unjust behest, And scorns her offer'd love, and shuns to be caress'd. His face besprent with liquid crystal shines, His blooming face that seems a purple flow'r But, ah! what pen his piteous plight may Which low to earth its drooping head de When he in abject-wise implores the Yet hence the youth, and hence the flow'r dame, shall claim, and fame. Ne hopeth aught of sweet reprieve to If so I deem aright, transcending worth gain; Or when from high she levels well her aim, And, through the thatch, his cries each falling stroke proclaim. The other tribe aghast, with sore dismay, Attend, and con their tasks with mickle care: By turns, astonied, ev'ry twig survey, And, from their fellow's hateful wounds, beware; Knowing, I wist, how each the same may share; Till fear has taught them a performance meet, And to the well-known chest the dame repair; Behind some door, in melancholy thought, Mindless of food, he, dreary caitiff! pines; Ne for his fellows' joyaunce careth aught, But to the wind all merriment re signs; And deems it shame if he to peace in clines; And many a sullen look askance is sent, Which for his dame's annoyance he designs; And still the more to pleasure him she's bent, The more doth he, perverse, her 'havior past resent. Whence oft with sugar'd cates she doth 'em Ah, me! how much I fear lest pride it Ah, better far than all the muses' lyres, All coward arts, is valor's gen'rous heat; The firm fixt breast which fit and right requires, Enjoy, poor imps! enjoy your sportive trade, And chase gay flies, and cull the fairest flow'rs; Like Vernon's patriot soul; more justly For when my bones in grass-green sods great Than craft that pimps for ill, or flow'ry false deceit. Yet, nursed with skill, what dazzling fruits appear! Ev'n now sagacious foresight points to show A little bench of heedless bishops here! Or bard sublime, if bard may e'er be so, As Milton, Shakespeare, names that ne'er shall die! Though now he crawl along the ground so low, Nor weeting how the muse should soar on high, Wisheth, poor starv'ling elf! his paper kite may fly. And this perhaps, who censuring the design, Low lays the house which that of cards doth build, Shall Dennis be! if rigid fates incline, And many an epic to his rage shall yield; And many a poet quit th' Aonian field; And, sour'd by age, profound he shall appear, As he who now with 'sdainful fury thrill'd, Surveys mine work; and levels many a sneer, And furls his wrinkly front, and cries, "What stuff is here?" But now Dan Phoebus gains the middle sky, And liberty unbars her prison-door; And like a rushing torrent out they fly, And now the grassy cirque han cover'd o'er With boist'rous revel-rout and wild uproar; A thousand ways in wanton rings they run, Heav'n shield their short-lived pastimes I implore For well may freedom, erst so dearly won, Appear to British elf more gladsome than the sun are laid; For never may ye taste more careless hours In knightly castles, or in ladies' bow'rs. Oh, vain to seek delight in earthly thing! But most in courts where proud ambi tion tow'rs; Deluded wight, who weens fair peace can spring Beneath the pompous dome of kesar or of king. See in each sprite some various bent appear! These rudely carol most incondite lay; Those sauntering on the green, with jocund leer Salute the stranger passing on his way; Some builden fragile tenements of clay; Some to the standing lake their courses bend, With pebbles smooth at duck and drake to play; Thilk to the huxter's sav'ry cottage tend, In pastry kings and queens th' allotted mite to spend. Here, as each season yields a different store, Each season's stores in order rangèd been; Apples with cabbage-net y-cover'd o'er, Galling full sore th' unmoney'd wight, are seen; And goose-b'rie clad in liv'ry red or green; And here of lovely dye, the cath'rine pear, Fine pear! as lovely for thy juice I ween, Oh, may no wight e'er penniless come there, Lest smit with ardent love he pine with hopeless care! See! cherries here, ere cherries yet abound, With thread so white in tempting posies tied, Scattering like blooming maid their glances round, With pamper'd look draw little eyes aside; |