Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub
[blocks in formation]

And in the dust be equal made

With the poor crooked fcythe and fpade;
All heads must come

To the cold tomb:

Only the actions of the just

Smell fweet and bloffom in the duft.

SHIRLEY.

PRINCE LEEBOO.

FROM the mighty Pacific with foft-fwelling waves,
That a thousand bright regions eternally laves,
'Mid rocks of red coral with fhell-fish abounding,
The notes of the parrot and pigeon refounding,
Crown'd with groves of banana and taper bamboo,
Rife the gay funny fhores of the Ifles of Pelew.

From China returning with filk and with tea,
The tall English veffel fails over the sea;

Ah! look how the heaves! on the rocks fhe is ftranded!

But the boats are thrown out, and the failors are landed.

What black men are those in their flender canoe, Who gaze with fuch wonder?-The men of Pelew.

How

[blocks in formation]

How kindly they welcome the failors on fhore! yams and sweet cocoanuts bring from their store;

And

But vain ev'ry effort to foften their anguish: For home, diftant home, the poor Englishmen languish;

། They build a ftout ship, they fail off from Pelew, And away with the strangers fails young Prince Leeboo.

O! what is his rapture, and what his furprife, When in gay bufy London he opens his eyes! "Fine fhops, houfes, coaches, O! joy beyond measure!

Yes, yes, my dear friends fhall partake in my pleasure :

Fine clothes, coaches, horses, I'll bear to PelewWhat wonder for them, what delight for Leeboo!"

Fond projects! In vain fhall his father explore The wide fhiolefs waves-he fhall fee him no more. O! chide not the English thy darling detaining,, And chide not thy fon 'mid the ftrangers remaining: Know, death has arrested him far from Pelew, And the ftrangers have wept o'er the gentle Leeboo!

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

PROUD and foolish, noify ftream!
Who to fome muddy pool thy birth doft owe,
Which cafually a brook became,
Affifted by the rain and melting snow:

Tho' now thou boaft thy fwelling tide, Auguft will foon be here, and end thy short-liv'd pride.

Thou foam'ft and boil'ft along the plain, The flocks and fhepherds threat'ning by the way, Thro' borrow'd waters, bafely vain,

Lift'ft up thy head, and dost regardless stray.
Thy noify pride is all that thou canst call thy own;
Thy upftart ftream will foon be gone,

No drop remain of thy proud fwelling flood;
But all the cattle of the plain

Tread o'er the dufty fand, and spurn it with

difdain!

DRYDEN:

HUNTING

Hunting the Hare.

III

HUNTING THE HARE.

HARK from yon covert, where those tow'ring oaks
Above the humble copfe afpiring rife,

What glorious triumphs burst in ev'ry gale
Upon our ravish'd ears! The hunters fhout,

The clanging horns fwell their sweet winding

notes,

The pack wide op'ning load the trembling air
With various melody; from tree to tree
The propagated cry redoubling bounds,
And winged zephyrs waft the floating joy
Thro' all the regions near: afflictive birch
No more the schoolboy dreads; his prison broke,
Scamp'ring he flies, nor heeds his master's call;
The weary traveller forgets his road,

And climbs th' adjacent hill; the plowman leaves
Th' unfinish'd furrow; nor his bleating flocks
Are now the fhepherd's joy; men, boys and
girls

Defert th' unpeopled village; and wild crowds Spread o'er the plain, by the sweet phrensy seized.

[blocks in formation]

112

The Fairy's Song.

THE FAIRY'S SONG.

COME follow, follow me,
Ye fairy elves that be,

Light tripping o'er the green;
Come follow Mab your queen:
Hand in hand we 'll dance around,
For this place is fairy ground.

When mortals are at reft
And fnoring in their neft,
Unheard and unespied

Through key-holes we do glide;
Over tables, ftools and fhelves
We trip it with our fairy elves.

Then o'er a mushroom's head
Our tablecloth we spread;
A grain of rye or wheat

The diet that we eat ;

Pearly drops of dew we drink
In acorn cups-fill'd to the brink.

The grafshopper, gnat, and fly,
Serve for our minstrelfy.

Grace

« ПредишнаНапред »