And ftedfast hate, and sharp affliction join'd, And fury uncontrould, and chattisement unkind.

Few but have ken’d, in semblance neet pourtray’d,

55 The childish faces of old Eol's train; Libs, Notus, Auster * : these in frowns array’d, How then would fare or carth, or sky, or main, Were the stern god to give bis slaves the rein ? And were not Me rebellious breaits to quell, 60 And were not me her statutes to maintain,

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

A rusret stole was o'er her shoulders thrown ; A rufset kirtle fenc'd the nipping air ; 65 'Twas simple ruset, but it was her own ; 'Twas her own country bred the flock so fair ; "Twas her own labour did the fleece prepare ; And, footh to say, her pupils, rang'd around, Thro' pious awe, did term it passing rare; 79

For they in gaping wonderment abound, And think, no doubt, the been the greatest wight

on ground.

Alheit ne fatt'ry did corrupt her truth,
Ne pompous title did debauch her ear;
Goody, good-woman, gossip, n'aunt, forsooth, 75
Os dame, the sole additions she did hear;

Yet these she challeng'd, these she held right dear:
Ne would esteem him act as mought behove,
Who should not honour'd eld with these revere:
For never title

yet
so mean could

prove,

85 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, impellid by need,
Into her school, begirt with chickens, came ; 85
Such favour did her past deportment claim :
And, if neglect had lavish'd on the ground
Fragment of bread, the would collect the same ;

For well she knew, and quaintly could expound, What sin it were to waste the smallest crumb she found.

90

Herbs too she knew, and well of each could speak
That in her garden fip'd the filv'ry dew;
Where no vain low'r disclos'd a gaudy streak;
But herbs for use, 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, disdaining here to

rhyme.

100

Yet cuphrasy may not be left unsung,
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 shepherd's pofie found; And lavender, whose spikes of azure bloom 105 Shall be ere-while, in arid bundles bound,

To lurk amidst the labours of her looin, And crown her kerchiefs clean, with mickle rare

perfume.

And here trim rosemarine, that whilom crown'd
The daintiest garden of the proudest peer; 110
Ere, driven from its envy'd fte, it found
A sacred shelter for its branches here;
Where edg’d with goldits glitt'ring skirts appear.
Oh wassel days ! O customs meet and well!
Ere this was banish'd from its lofty sphere : 115

Simplicity then fought this humble cell,
Nor ever would the more with thane and lordling,

dwell.

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

All, for the nonce, untuning ev'ry string, 125 Uphung their useless lyres--small heart had they

to sing

For she was just, and friend to virtuous lore,
And pass'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 simple faith in iron chains did mourn,
That nould on wooden image place her creed;

And lawny saints in smould'ring flames did burn: Ah! dearest lord, forefend, thilk days should c'er return.

135

In elbow-chair, like that of Scottih sem,
By the sharp tooth of cank'ring eld defac'd,
In which, when he receives his diadem,
Our sov’reign prince and liefest liege is placid,
The matron fate ; and some with rank the
grac'd,

140 (The source 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 cach other dear, whatever them betide.

Right well she knew each temper to descry; 145
To thwart the proud, and the submiss to raise;
Some with vile copper-prize evalt on high,
And some entice with pittarce small of praise;

And other some with baleful sprig se 'frays: Ev'n absent, she 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.

Lo now with state the utters the command !
Eftsoons the urchins to their tasks repair; 155
Their books of stature small they take in hand,
Which with pellucid horn secured are ;
To save from finger wet the letters fair :
The work so 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, unpleasing fight, I ween!

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