January and May: OR THE MERCHANT'S TALE. FROM CHAUCER. THERE liv'd in Lombardy, as authors write, In days of old, a wife and worthy knight; Of gentle manners, as of gen'rous race, Bleft with much fenfe, more riches, and fome grace. Yet led aftray by Venus' foft delights, He fcarce could rule fome idle appetites: But in due time, when fixty years were o'er, Or dotage turn'd his brain, is hard to find; But his high courage prick'd him forth to wed, NOTES. ΤΟ JANUARY AND MAY] This Tranflation was done at fixteen or feventeen years of Age. P. Plate VI. Vol. II. facing p.76. C.Mosley Sculp Jam. Wale Delin Old as he was, and void of Eye-sight too, What cou'd alas! a helpless Husband do. Jan & May. This was his nightly dream, his daily care, These thoughts he fortify'd with reasons still, Let finful batchelors their woes deplore, In blifs all night, and innocence all day: 15 20 25 30 35 40 But what fo pure, which envious tongues will fpare? Some wicked wits have libell'd all the fair. With matchless impudence they style a wife The dear-bought curfe, and lawful plague of life; 45 A night-invasion, and a mid-day-devil. Let not the wife these fland'rous words regard, But curse the bones of ev'ry lying bard. 50 All other goods by fortune's hand are giv❜n, A wife is the peculiar gift of heav'n. Like empty fhadows, pafs, and glide away; 55 This bleffing lafts (if those who try, say true) Our grandfire Adam, ere of Eve poffefs'd, Alone, and ev'n in Paradife unblefs'd, With mournful looks the blissful scenes furvey'd, And wander'd in the solitary shade. 60 The Maker faw, took pity, and bestow'd Woman, the last, the best referv'd of God. 65 A Wife! ah gentle deities, can he That has a wife, e'er feel adverfity? Would men but follow what the fex advise, All things would profper, all the world grow wife. 'Twas by Rebecca's aid that Jacob won His father's bleffing from an elder fon: 70 |