Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Warning the cookmaid not to burn
That roaft-meat which it cannot turn.
The groaning-chair began to crawl,
Like a huge fnail, along the wall;
There stuck aloft in public view,
And, with small change, a pulpit grew.
The porringers, that, in a row,
Hung high, and made a glitt'ring fhew,
To a lefs noble substance chang'd,
Were, now, but leathern buckets rang'd.
The ballads pasted on the wall,

Of Joan of France, and English Moll,
Fair Rofamond, and Robin Hood,
The Little Children in the Wood,
Now feem'd to look abundant better,
Improv'd in picture, fize, and letter ;
And, high in order plac'd, describe
The heraldry of ev'ry tribe.

A bedstead, of the antique mode,
Compact, of timber many à load;
Such as our ancestors did ufe,
Was metamorphos'd into pews;
Which still their ancient nature keep,
By lodging folks difpos'd to fleep.

The cottage, by such feats as these,
Grown to a church by juft degrees,
The hermits then defir'd their hoft
To ask for what he fancy'd most.
Philemon, having paus'd awhile,
Return'd 'em thanks in homely style:

Then

Then faid, "My houfe is grown so fine,
Methinks I ftill would call it mine:
I'm old, and fain would live at ease;
Make me the Parfon, if you please.
He spoke, and presently he feels
His grazier's coat fall down his heels
He fees, yet hardly can believe,
About each arm a pudding sleeve;
His waistcoat to a caffock grew,
And both affum'd a fable hue;
But, being old, continu'd just
As threadbare, and as full of duft.
His talk was now of tythes and dues
He fmoak'd his pipe, and read the newsp
Knew how to preach old fermons next,
Vamp'd in the preface, and the text:
At christ'nings well could act his part,
And had the fervice all by heart;

Wish'd women might have children fast,
And thought whose fow had farrow'd last.
Against Diffenters would repine,

And stood up firm for right divine;
Found his head fill'd with many a system:
But claffic authors-he ne'er mifs'd 'em.
Thus having furbish'd up a Parson,

Dame Baucis, next, they play'd their farce ont
Inftead of home-fpun coifs, were feen,

Good pinners, edg'd with Colberteen ;
Her petticoat, transform'd a-pace,
Became black fattin, flounc'd with lace,

[blocks in formation]

Plain Goody would no longer down;
'Twas Madam, in her grogram gown.
Philemon was in great furprize,

And hardly could believe his eyes,
Amaz'd to fee her look fo prim,
And the admir'd as much at him.

Thus happy in their change of life
Were, feveral years, this man and wife;
When, on a day which prov'd their last,
Difcourfing o'er old ftories paft,

They went, by chance, amidst their talk,
To the church-yard, to take a walk :
When Baucis haftily cry'd out,

"My dear, I fee your forehead sprout!"
"Sprout!" quoth the man, "what's this you tell us?
I hope you don't believe me jealous:
But yet, methinks, I feel it true;
And, really, your's is budding too-
Nay-now I cannot ftir my foot;
It feels as if 'twere taking root."
Description would but tire my mufe;
In short, they both were turn'd to Yews.
Old Goodman Dobfon of the Green

Remembers he the trees has seen :

He'll talk of them from noon till night,
And goes with folks to fhew the fight:
On Sundays,, after ev'ning pray'r,
He gathers all the parish there ;
Points out the place of either Yew;
Here Baucis, there Philemon grew:

Till, once, a parfon of our town,
To mend his barn, cut Baucis down;
At which, 'tis hard to be believ'd
How much the other tree was griev'd,
Grew fcrubby, dy'd a-top, was ftunted;
So the next parfon ftubb'd and burnt it.

[blocks in formation]
« ПредишнаНапред »