IX.

Albeit ne flatt'ry did corrupt her truth,
Ne pompous title did debauch her ear;
Goody, good-woman, goffip, n'aunt, forsooth,
Or dame, the fole additions she did hear;

Yet these he challeng'd, thefe fhe held right dear:
Ne would efteem him act as mought behove,

Who fhould not honour'd eld with these revere :

prove,

For never title yet fo mean could But there was eke a Mind which did that title love.

X.

One ancient hen she took delight to feed, The plodding pattern of the bufy dame; Which, ever and anon, impell'd by need, Into her school, begirt with chickens, came; Such favour did her påft deportment claim :" And, if Neglect had lavish'd on the ground Fragment of bread, fhe would collect the fame ; For well she knew, and quaintly could expound, What fin it were to waste the smallest crumb fhe found. XI.

Herbs too fhe knew, and well of each could speak

That in her garden fipp'd the filv'ry dew;

Where no vain flow'r difclos'd a gaudy streak ;
But herbs for ufe, and phyfick, not a few,

Of grey renown, within those borders grew ; The tufted Bafil, pun-provoking Thyme, Fresh Baum, and Mary-gold of cheerful hue; The lowly Gill that never dares to climb; And more I fain would fing, disdaining here to rhime. XII.

Yet Euphrafy may not be left unfung,

That gives dim eyes to wander leagues around ;
And pungent Radish, biting infant's tongue;
And Plantain ribb'd that heals the reaper's wound
And Marj'ram fweet, in fhepherd's pofie found;
And Lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom
Shall be, ere-while, in arid bundles bound,

To lurk amidst the labours of her loom,

31

And crown her kerchiefs clean, with mickle rare perfume.

XIII.

And here trim Rofmarine, that whilom crown'd
The dantieft garden of the proudest peer;

Ere, driven, from its envy'd fite, it found

A facred fhelter for its branches here;
Where edg'd with gold its glitt'ring skirts appear.

Oh waffel days; O cuftoms meet and well!
Ere this was banish'd from its lofty sphere:
Simplicity then fought this humble cell,

Nor ever would She more with thane and lordling dwell.

XIV. Here

XIV.

Here oft the dame, on Sabbath's decent eve, Hymned fuch pfalms as Sternhold forth did mete, If winter 'twere, fhe to her hearth did cleave; But in her garden found a fummer feat: Sweet melody to hear her then repeat How Ifrael's fons, beneath a foreign king, While taunting foe-men did a fong intreat, All, for the Nonce, untuning ev'ry ftring, Up hung their useless lyres-small heart had they to fing. XV.

For fhe was juft, and friend too virtuous lore, And pafs'd much time in truly virtuous deed; And, in those Elfins ears, would oft deplore The times, when Truth by Popish rage did bleed; And tortious death was true devotion's meed; And fimple Faith in iron chains did mourn, That would on wooden image place her creed; And lawny faints in mould'ring flames did burn : Ah! dearest Lord, forefend, thilk days fhould e'er return. XVI,

In elbow chair, like that of Scottish ftem

By the sharp tooth of cank'ring eld defac'd,
In which, when he receives his diadem,
Our fovereign prince and liefeft liege is plac'd,

The matron fate; and some with rank she grac❜ḍ, (The fource of childen's and of courtier's 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. XVII.

1

Right well she knew each temper to descry;
To thwart the proud, and the submiss to raise ;
Some with vile copper prize exalt on high,
And fome entice with pittance fmall of praise;
And other fome with baleful fprig fhe 'frays;
Ev'n abfent, fhe the reins of pow'r doth hold,
While with quaint arts the giddy crowd she sways;
Forewarn'd, if little bird their pranks behold,
"Twill whisper in her ear, and all the fcene unfold.,
XVIII.

Lo now with state she utters the command!
Eftfoons the urchins to their tasks repair;
Their books of ftature small they take in hand,
Which with pellucid horn fecured are;

To fave from finger wet the letters fair :
The work fo gay, that on their back is seen,
St. George's high atchievements does declare;
On which thilk wight that has y-gazing been,
Kens the forth-coming rod, unpleafing fight, I ween!

XIX. Ah

XIX.

Ah lucklefs he, and born beneath the beam
Of evil ftar! it irks me whilft I write!

a

As erft the bard by Mulla's filver fiream,

Oft, as he told of deadly dolorous plight,
Sigh'd as he fung, and did in tears indite.
For brandishing the rod, fhe doth begin

To loose the brogues, the ftripling's late delight! And down they drop; appears his dainty skin, Fair as the furry coat of whiteft Ermilin.

XX.

O ruthful scene! when from a nook obfcure,
His little fifter doth his peril fee:

All playful as she fate, the grows demure;
She finds full foon her wonted fpirits 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 fad grief that fwells in either eye,
And wrings her fo that all for pity she could dye.
XXI.

Nor longer can fhe now her shrieks command;

And hardly the forbears, thro' aweful fear,
To rufhen forth, and, with prefumptuous hand,
To stay harsh juftice in its mid career.