And stedfaft hate, and fharp affliction join'd, And fury uncontroul'd, and chastisement unkind.

Few but have ken'd, in femblance meet pour

tray'd,

The childish faces of old Eol's train;

*

55

Libs, Notus, Aufter thefe in frowns array'd, How then would fare or earth, or fky, or main, Were the ftern god to give his flaves the rein ? And were not the rebellious breasts to quell, 60 And were not she her ftatutes to maintain,

The cot no more, I ween, were deem'd the cell, Where comely peace of mind, and decent order dwell.

65

A ruffet ftole was o'er her fhoulders thrown ; A ruffet kirtle fenc'd the nipping air; 'Twas fimple ruffet, but it was her own; 'Twas her own country bred the flock fo fair; "Twas her own labour did the fleece prepare; And, footh to fay, her pupils, rang'd around,

'Thro' pious awe, did term it paffing rare;

73

For they in gaping wonderment abound, And think, no doubt, the been the greateft wight on ground.

Albeit ne flatt'ry did corrupt her truth,
Ne pompous title did debauch her ear;
Goody, good-woman, goffip, n'aunt, forfooth, 75
Or dame, the fole additions fhe did hear;

* The fouth-west, fouth, &c. &c.

Yet thefe fhe challeng'd, these she held right dear: Ne would efteem him act as mought behove, Who fhould not honour'd eld with these revere: For never title yet fo mean could prove, But there was eke a mind which did that title love.

85

One ancient hen fhe 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; 85 Such favour did her paft 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 fmalleft crumb she found.

90

Herbs too fhe knew, and well of each could speak That in her garden fip'd the filv'ry dew; Where no vain flow'r disclos'd a gaudy ftreak; But herbs for ufe, and phyfick, not a few,

Of grey renown, within those borders grew: 95 The tufted bafil, pun-provoking thyme, Fresh baum, and mary gold of chearful hue; The lowly gill, that never dares to climb; And more I fain would fing, difdaining here to rhyme.

Yet euphrafy may not be left unfung,

100

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 marjra'm sweet, in fhepherd's pofie found; And lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom 105 Shall be ere-while, in arid bundles bound,

To lurk amidft the labours of her loom,

And crown her kerchiefs clean, with mickle rare perfume.

And here trim rosemarine, that whilom crown'd
The daintieft garden of the proudest peer; 110
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: 115
Simplicity then fought this humble cell,

Nor ever would fhe more with thane and lordling dwell.

Here oft the dame, on fabbath's decent eve,
Hymned fuch pfalms as Sternhold forth did mete;
If winter 'twere, she to her hearth did cleave, 120
But in her garden found a summer-seat :
Sweet melody! to hear her then repeat
How Ifrael's fons, beneath a foreign king,
While taunting foe-men did a fong intreat,

125

All, for the nonce, untuning ev'ry string, Uphung their useless lyres-fmall heart had they

to fing.

For fhe was juft, and friend to virtuous lore, And pafs'd much time in truly virtuous deed; And, in those elfins' ears, would oft deplore [130 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 nould on wooden image place her creed; And lawny faints in fmould'ring flames did burn: Ah! dearest lord, forefend, thilk days fhould e'er

return.

135

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 fov'reign prince and liefeft liege is plac'd,
The matron fate; and fome with rank fhe
grac'd,

140

(The fource of children's and of courtier's pride!) Redress'd affronts, for vile affronts there pass'd; And warned them not the fretful to deride, But love each other dear, whatever them betide.

Right well she knew each temper to defcry; 145 To thwart the proud, and the fubmifs to raise; Some with vile copper-prize exalt on high, And fome entice with pittance fmall of praife;

And other fome with baleful sprig fhe 'frays: Ev'n abfent, fhe the reins of pow'r doth hold, 150 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 scene unfold.

155

Lo now with ftate fhe 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; 160
On which thilk wight that has y-gazing been,
Kens the forth-coming rod, unpleafing fight, I ween!

Ah luckless he, and born beneath the beam
Of evil ftar! it irks me whilft I write !
As erft the bard by Mulla's filver stream, 165
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, 170 Fair as the furry coat of whiteft ermilin.

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

* Spenfer.