IN II. SPENSER. The ALLEY. I. N ev'ry Town where Thamis rolls his Tyde, There oft are heard the notes of Infant Woe, 5 The fhort thick Sob, loud Scream, and fhriller Squall: How can ye, Mothers, vex your children fo? Some play, fome eat, fome cack against the wall, And as they crouchen low, for bread and butter call. II. And on the broken pavement, here and there, And hens, and dogs, and hogs are feeding by; 10 15 Now finging fhrill, and fcolding eft between ; Şcolds anfwer foul-mouth'd fcolds; bad neighbourhood I ween. III. The fnappish cur, (the paffengers annoy) 20 Clofe at my heel with yelping treble flies; IV. Hard by a Sty, beneath a roof of thatch, 30 Cod, whiting, oyfter, mackrel, sprat, or plaice: There learn'd she speech from tongues that never cease. Slander befide her, like a Mag-pie, chatters, V. Her dugs were mark'd by ev'ry Collier's hand, 35 40 Nay, e'en the parts of fhame by name would call : Yea, when the paffed by or lane or nook, Would greet the man who turn'd him to the Wall, And by his hand obfcene the porter took, Nor ever did askance like modest Virgin look. 45 VI. Such place hath Deptford, navy-building town, Woolwich and Wapping, smelling ftrong of pitch; Such Lambeth, envy of each band and gown, And Twick'nam fuch, which fairer fcenes enrich, Grots, ftatues, urns, and Jo-n's Dog and Bitch, Ne village is without, on either fide, All up the filver Thames, or all adown ; Ne Richmond's felf, from whofe tall front are ey'd Vales, fpires, meandring ftreams, and Windfor's tow'ry pride. A heart refign'd the conqueft of your eyes: This vocal wood had drawn the Poet too. 5 On a FAN of the Author's defign, in which was painted the ftory of CEPHALUS and PROCRIS, with the Motto, AURA VENI. C. While Procris panted in the fecret shade; COME, gentle Air! th'Eolian fhepherd faid, Come, gentle Air, the fairer Delia cries, Yet guiltless too this bright destroyer lives, At random wounds, nor knows the wounds she gives : |