: A great economist was she, Nor know the wants of pride and state. Does not the sun with constant pace Do not the stars which shine so bright, His patient neck, and draw the plough? SECTION VI The Doves. 1. REAS'NING at ev'ry step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way, While meaner things whom instinct leads, COTTON! 2. One silent eve I wander'd late, And heard the voice of love; 3. "Our mutual bond of faith and truth, 4." While innocence without disguise, Shall fill the circles of those eyes, 5. "Those ills that wait on all below 6. "When lightnings flash among the trees, I fear lest thee alone they seize, 7. ""Tis then I feel myself a wife, 8. "But, Oh! if fickle and unchaste, 9. "No need of lightnings from on high, Denied th' endearments of thine eye, 10. Thus sang the sweet sequester'd bird, And I recorded what I heard, COWPER. SECTION VII. The Goldfinches. 1. ALL in a garden, on a currant bush, 3. And now, what transport glow'd in either's eye! And future sonnets in the chirping brood! 4. But ah! what earthly happiness can last? How does the fairest purpose often fail! A truant school-boy's wantonness could blast Their flattering hopes, and leave them both to wail. 5. The most ungentle of his tribe was he; No gen'rous precept ever touch'd his heart: With concord false and hideous prosody, He scrawl'd his task, and blunder'd o'er his part. 7. But how shall I describe, in numbers rude, 8. "O grief of griefs!" with shrieking voice she cried, For this, with pain, I bent the stubborn hair, And lin'd our cradle with the thistle's down! 11. Was it for this my freedom I resign'd, And ceas'd to rove at large from plain to plain; For this I sat at home whole days confin'd, To bear the scorching heat, and pealing rain? And all my wonted mirth and spirits fail!" SECTION VIII. The pet Lamb. JAGO. 1. THE dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink; I hear'd a voice; it said, "Drink, pretty creature, drink!" And, looking o'er the hedge, before me I espied, A snow white mountain Lamb, with a maiden at its side. 2. No other sheep were near, the Lamb was all alone, And by a slender cord, was tether'd to a stone; With one knee on the grass did the little maiden kneel, While to the mountain Lamb she gave its evening meal. 3. "Twas little Barbara Lethwaite, a child of beauty rare : I watch'd them with delight; they were a lovely pair: And now with empty can, the maiden turn'd away, But ere ten yards were gone, her footsteps did she stay. 4. Towards the Lamb she look'd; and from that shady place, I unobserv'd could see the workings of her face: If nature to her tongue could measur'd numbers bring, Thus, though I, to her Lamb that little maid would sing : 5. "What ails thee, young one, what? why pull so at thy cord? Is it not well with thee? well both for bed and board! Thy plot of grass is soft, and green as grass can be: Rest, little young one, rest; what is't that aileth thee! 6. What is it thou would'st seek? What's wanting to thy heart? Thy limbs are they not strong? and beautiful thou art : This grass is tender grass; these flowers they have no peers; And that green corn all day is rustling in thy ears. 7. If the sun is shining hot, do but stretch thy woollen chain, This beech is standing by, its covert thou canst gain: For rain and mountain storms the like thou need'st not fear; The rain and storm are things which scarcely can come here. 8. Rest, little young one, rest; thou hast forgot the day, When my father found thee first in places far away: Many flocks were on the hill, but thou wert own'd by none. And thy mother from thy side for ever more was gone. 9. He took thee in his arms, and in pity brought thee home: A blessed day for thee! then whither wouldst thou roam? A faithful nurse thou hast; the dam that did thee yean Upon the mountain tops, no kinder could have been. 10. Thou know'st that twice a day, I've brought thee in this can Fresh water from the brook, as clear as ever ran: And twice in the day, when the ground is wet with dew, I bring thee draughts of milk, warm milk it is and new. 11. It will not, will not rest! Poor creature! can it be, That 'tis thy mother's heart which is working so in thee? 'Things that I know not of perhaps to thee are dear, And dreams of things which thou canst neither see nor hear. 12. Alas! the mountain tops that look so green and fair; I've heard of fearful winds and darkness that come there : The little brooks that seem all pastime and all play, SECTION IX. WORDSWORTH. The Farmer, the Spaniel, and the Cat. 1. As at his board a Farmer sat, Replenish'd by his homely treat, |