Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Before my view appear'd a structure fair,
Its fite uncertain, if in earth or air;
With rapid motion turn'd the mansion round;
With ceafeless noife the ringing walls refound:
Not lefs in number were the fpacious doors,
Than leaves on trees, or fands upon the shores;
Which fill unfolded ftand, by night, by day,
Pervious to winds, and open every way.
As flames by nature to the skies afcend,
As weighty bodies to the centre tend,
As to the fea returning rivers roll,

And the touch'd needle trembles to the pole;
Hither as to their proper place, arise

420

430

[blocks in formation]

450

There various news I heard of love and ftrife,
Of peace and war, health, fickness, death, and life,
Of lofs and gain, of famine and of flore,
Of forms at fea, and travels on the fhore,
Of prodigies, and portents feen in air,

Of fires and plagues, and stars with blazing hair,
Of turns of fortune, changes in the state,
The falls of favourites, projects of the great,
Of old mifmanagements, taxations new:
All neither wholly falfe, nor wholly true.

IMITATIONS.

In fummer, when they ben grene;.
And in the roof yet men may fene
A thousand hoels and well mo
To letten the foune out-go;
And by day in every tide,
Ben all the doors open wide,
And by night each one unfhet;
No porter is there one to let,
No manner tydings in to pace:
Ne never ret is in that place.

Ver. 448. There various news I heard, &c.]
Of werres, of peace, of marriages,
Of reft, of labour, of voyages,
Of abode, of dethe, and of life,
Of love and hate, accord and ftrife,
Of lofs, of lore, and of winnings,
Of hele, of sickness, and leflings,

Of divers tranfmutations,
Of eftates and eke of regions,
Of trust, of dred, of jealousy,
Of wit, of winning, and of folly,
Of good, or bad government,
Of fire, and of divers accident.

Above, below, without, within, around, Confus'd, unnumber'd multitudes are found, Who pafs, repafs, advance, and glide away; 460 Hofts rais'd by fear, and phantoms of a day: Aftrologers, that future fates foreshew, Projectors, quacks, and lawyers not a few ; And priests, and party zealots, numerous bands With home-born lies, or tales from foreign lands Each talk'd aloud, or in fome secrét place, And wild impatience star'd in every face. The flying rumours gather'd as they roll'd, Scarce any tale was fooner heard than told; And all who told it added something new, 470) And all who heard it made enlargements too, In every ear it spread, on every tongue it grew, Thus flying caft and weft, and north and fouth, Newstravell'd with increase from mouth to mouth. So from a fpark, that kindled first hy chance, With gathering force the quickening flames ad

vance;

Till to the clouds their curling heads afpire,
And towers and temples fink in floods of fire.

When thus ripe lies are to perfection sprung, Full grown, and fit to grace a mortal tongue, 480 Through thousand vents, impatient, forth they flow,

And rush in millions on the world below,

Fame fits aloft, and points them out their course,
Their date determines, and prescribes their force:
Some to remain, and some to perish foon;
Or wane and wax alternate like the moon.
Around, a thousand winged wonders fly,
Borne by the trumpet's blast, and scatter'd through
the sky.

There, at one paffage, oft you might furvey
A lie and truth contending for the way;

IMITATIONS.

490

Ver. 458. Above, below, without, within, &c.],
But fuch a grete congregation

Of folke as I faw roame about,
Some within, and fome without,
Was never seen, ne shall be eft-
And every wight that I faw there
Rowned everich in others ear
A new tyding privily,

Or elfe he told it openly

Right thus, and faid, Knowft not thou
That is betide to-night now?

No, quoth he, tell me what?

And then he told him this and that, &c.

Thus north and fouth

Went every tyding from mouth to mouth. And that encreasing evermo, As fire is wont to quicken and go From a sparkle fprong amifs, Till all the citee brent up is. Ver. 489. There, at one paffage, &c.] And fometime I faw there at once, A leifing and a fad footh faw That gonnen at adventure draw Out of a window forth to pace

And no man, be he ever fo wrothe,

Shall have one of these two, but bothe, &c,

[ocr errors]

And trust me, Sir, the chastest you can choose
Will afk obfervance, and exact her dues.
If what I fpeak my noble lord offend,
My tedious fermon here is at an end.

'Tis well, 'tis wond'rous well, the knight re-
plies,

Moft worthy kinfman, faith you're mighty wife!
We, Sirs, are fools, and must resign the caufe
To heathenish authors, proverbs, and old faws.
He spoke with fcorn, and turn'd another way :-
What does my friend, my dear Placebo fay?

I fay, quoth he, by heaven the man's to blame,
To flander wives, and wedlock's holy name.
At this the council rofe, without delay;
Each, in his own opinion, went his way;
With full confent, that, all disputes appeas'd,
The knight fhould marry, when and where he
pleas'd.

Who now but January exults with joy? The charms of wedlock all his soul employ; Each nymph by turns his wavering mind poffeft, And reign'd the fhort-liv'd tyrant of his breast; While fancy pictur'd every lively part, And each bright image wander'd o'er his heart. Thus, in fome public forum fix'd on high, A mirror fhews the figures moving by; Still one by one, in fwift fucceflion, pafs The gliding fhadows o'er the polish'd glafs. This lady's charms the nicest could not blame. But vile fufpicions had afpers'd her fame; That was with fenfe, but not with virtue bleft; And one had grace that wanted all the rest. Thus doubting long what nymph he should obey, He fix'd at laft upon the youthful May. Her faults he knew not, Love is always blind, But every charm revolv'd within his mind : Her tender age, her form divinely fair, Her eafy motion, her attractive air, Her fweet behaviour, her enchanting face, Her moving foftnefs, and majestic grace.

Much in his prudence did our knight rejoice, And thought no mortal could dispute his choice: Once more in hafte he fummon'd every friend, And told them all, their pains were at an end. Heaven, that (faid he) inípir'd me first to wed, Provides a confort worthy of my bed: Let none oppofe th' election, fince on this Depends my quiet, and my future blifs.

A dame there is, the darling of my eyes,
Young, beauteous, artlefs, innocent, and wife;
Chafte, though not rich; and, though not nobly
born,

Of honest parents, and may ferve my turn.
Her will I wed, if gracious Heaven so please,
To país my age in fancity and ease;
And thank the powers, I may poffefs alone
The lovely prize, and fhare my blits with none!
If you, my friends, this virgin can procure,
My joys are full, my happiness is fure

One only doubt remains: Full oft I've heard,
By caluits grave, and deep divines averr'd,
" hat 'tis too much for human race to know
The bhís of heaven above, and earth below,
Now thould the nuptial pleasures prove to great,
To match the bleilings of the future ftate,

Thofe endless joys were ill-exchang'd for thefe ; Then clear this doubt, and fet my mind at eafe.

This Juftin heard, nor could his fpleen controul, Touch'd to the quick, and tickled at the foul. Sir Knight, he cry'd, if this be all you dread, Heaven put it past your doubt, whene'er you wed; And to my fervent prayers fo far confent, That, ere the rites are o'er, you may repent! Good Heaven, no doubt, the nuptial ftate approves, Since it chaftifes still what beft it loves. Then be not, Sir, abandon'd to despair ; Seek, and perhaps you'll find among the fair. One that may do your business to a hair; Not ev'n in wifh, your happiness delay, But prove the fcourge to lafh you on your way > Then to the skies your mounting foul shall go, Swift as an arrow foaring from the bow! Provided ftill you moderate your joy, Nor in your pleasures all your might employ, Let reafon's rule your strong defires abate, Nor please too lavishly your gentle mate. Old wives there are, of judgment most acute, Who folve thofe queftions beyond all dispute; Confult with thofe, and be of better cheer; Marry, do penance, and difmifs your fear.

So faid, they rofe, nor more the work delay'd; The match was offer'd, the proposals made. The parents, you may think, would foon comply, The old have intereft ever in their eye. Nor was it hard to move the lady's mind; When fortune favours, ftill the fair are kind.

I país each previous fettlement and deed, Too long for me to write, or you to read; Nor will with quaint impertinence difplay The pomp, the pageantry, the proud array. The time approach'd, to church the parties went, At once with carnal and devout intent: Forth came the priest, and bade th' obedient wife Like Sarah or Rebecca lead her life; Then pray'd the powers the fruitful bed to blefs, And made all fure enough with holiness.

And now the palace gates are open'd wide,
The guests appear in order, fide by side,
And plac'd in ftate the bridegroom and the bride,.
The breathing flute's foft notes are heard around,
And the shrill trumpets mix their filver found;
The vaulted roofs with echoing mufic ring,
These touch the vocal flops, and those the tremb
ling ftring,

Not thus Amphion tun'¿ the warbling lyre,
Nor Joab the founding clarion could inspire,
Nor fierce Theodamas, whofe fprightly ftrain
Could fwell the foul to rage, and fire the martial
train.

Bacchus himself, the nuptial feaft to grace,
(So poets fig) was prefent on the place:
And lovely Venus, goddess of delight,
Shook high her flaming torch in open fight,
And danc'd around, and fmil'd on every knight,.
Pleas'd her beft fervant would his courage try,
No lefs in wedlock, than in liberty.
Full many an age old Hymen had not spy'd
so kind a bridegroom, or fo bright a bride.
Ye bards, renown'd among the tuneful throng
For gentle Lays, and joyous nuptial fong;

Think not your fofteft numbers can display
The matchlefs glories of this blissful day:
The joys are fuch, as far tranfcend your rage,
When tender youth has wedded ftooping age.

The beauteous dame fat fmiling at the board,
And darted amorous glances at her lord.

When now the fourth revolving day was run,
('Twas June, and Cancer had receiv'd the fun)
Forth from her chamber came the beauteous bride;
The good old Knight mov'd flowly by her fide.
High mafs was fung; they feafted in the hall;
The fervants round ftood ready at their call.

Not Hefter's felf, whofe charms the Hebrews fing, The Squire alone was abfent from the board,

E'er look'd fo lovely on her Persian king :
Eright as the rifing fun in fummer's day,
And fresh and blooming as the month of May!
The joyful knight furvev'd her by his fide,
Nor envy'd Paris with the Spartan bride :
Still as his mind revolv'd with vast delight
Th' entrancing raptures of th' approaching night
Reftiefs he fat, invoking every power

To fpeed his blifs, and hafte the happy hour.
Meantime the vigorous dancers beat the ground,
And songs were fung, and flowing bowls went
round.

With odorous fpices they perfum'd the place,
And mirth and pleasure fhone in every face.
Damian alone, of all the menial train,
Sad in the midst of triumphs, figh'd for pain;
Damian alone, the Knight's obfequious Squire,
Confum'd at heart, and fed a secret fire.
His lovely mistress all his foul poffefs'd;
He look'd, he languifh'd, and could take no reft:
His task perform'd, he fadly went his way,
Fell on his bed, and loth'd the light of day.
There let him lie, till his relenting dame
Weep in her turn, and wafte in equal flame.
The weary fun, as learned poets write,
Forlook th' horizon, and roll'd down the light;
While glittering stars his abfent beams supply,
And night's dark mantle overspread the sky.
Then refe the guests; and, as the tine requir'd,
Each paid his thanks, and decently retir'd. [drefs,
The foe once gone, our knight prepar'd t'un-
So keen he was, and eager to poffefs:
But firit thought fit th' afliftance to receive,
Waich grave phyficians fcruple not to give;
Satyrion near, with hot Eringos ftood,
Cantharides, to fire the lazy blood,
Whole use old bards describe in luscious rhymes,
And critics learn'd explain to modern times.
By this the sheets were fpread, the bride un-
drets'd,

The room was fprinkled, and the bed was blefs'd.
What next enfued befeems me not to fay;
'Tis fung, he labour'd till the dawning day,
Then briskly sprung from bed, with heart fo light,
As all were nothing he had done by night;
And fipp'd his cordial as he fat upright.
He kifs'd his balmy fpoufe with wanton play,
And feebly fung a lufty roundely:
Then on the couch his weary limbs he caft;
For every labour must have reft at last.

But anxious cares the penfive Squire opprefs'd,
Sleep filed his eyes, and peace forfook his breast :
The raging flames that in his bosom dwell,
He wanted art to hide, and means to tell;
Yet hoping time th' occafion might betray,
Compos'd a founet to the lovely May;
Which, writ and folded with the nicest art,
He wrapp'd in filk, and laid upon his heart.

And much his fickness griev'd his worthy lord.
Who pray'd his fpoufe, attended with her train,
To vifit Damian, and divert his pain.

Th' obliging dames obey'd with one confent;
They left the hall, and to his lodging went.
The female tribe furround him as he lay,
And close beside him fat the gentle May:
Where, as the try'd his pulfe, he foftly drew
A heaving figh, and caft a mournful view!
Then gave his bill, and brib'd the powers divine,
With fecret vows, to favour his defign.

Who ftudies now but diftontented May?
On her foft couch uneasily the lay:
The lumpish hufband fnor'd away the night,
Till coughs awak'd him near the morning light.
What then he did, I'll not presume to tell,
Nor if the thought herself in heaven or hell:
Honest and dull in nuptial bed they lay,
Till the bell toll'd, and all arose to pray.
Were it by forceful defliny decreed,
Or did from chance, or nature's power proceed;
Or that fome ftar, with afpect kind to love,
Shed its felected influence from above;
Whatever was the caufe, the tender dame
Felt the first motions of an infant flame;
Receiv'd th' impreflions of the love-fick Squire,
And wafted in the foft infectious fire.

Ye fair, draw near, let May's example move
Your gentle minds to pity thofe who love!
Had fome herce tyrant in her ftead been found,
The poor adorer sure had hang'd, or drown'd:
But fhe, your fex's mirror, free from pride,
Was much too meek to prove a homicide.

But to my tale: Some fages have defin'd
Pleasure the fovereign blifs of human kind:
Our knight (who study'd much, we may suppose)
Deriv'd his high philofophy from thofe :
For, like a prince, he bore the vaft expence
Of lavish pomp, and proud magnificence:
His houfe was ftately, his retinue gay;
Large was his train, and gorgeous his array.
His fpacious garden, made to yield to none,
Was compafs'd round with wails of folid stone;
Priapus could not half defcribe the grace
(Though god of gardens) of this charming place;
A place to tire the rumbling wits of France
In long defcriptions, and exceed romance;
Enough to shame the gentleft bard that fings
Of painted meadows, and of purling fprings.

Full in the centre of the flowery ground,
A cryftal fountain fpread its ftreams around,
The fruitful banks with verdant laurels crown'd:,
About this fpring (if ancient fame fay true)
The dapper elves their moon-light sports pursue:
Their pigmy king, and little fairy queen,
In circling dauces gambol'd on the green,
While tuneful fprites a merry concert made,
And airy mufic warbled through the shade.

Hither the noble knight would oft repair,
(His fcene of pleasure, and peculiar care)
For this he held it dear. and always bore
The filver key that lack'd the garden-door.
To this fweet place, in fammer's fultry heat,
He us'd from noife and bufinels to retreat;
And here in dalliance fpend the live-long day,
"Solus cum fola," with his fprightly May:
For whate'er work was undischarg'd a-bed,
The duteous knight in this fair garden fped.

But, ah! what mortal lives of blifs fecure?
How fhart a space our worldly joys endure!
O Fortune, fair, like all thy treacherous kind,
But faithlefs fill, and wavering as the wind!
O painted monster, form'd mankind to cheat
With pleasing poison, and with soft deceit !
This rich, this amorous venerable knight,
Amidst his eafe, his folace and delight,
Struck blind by thee, refigns his days to grief,
And calls on death, the wretch's laft ralief.

The rage of jealousy then feiz'd his mind,
For much he fear'd the faith of woman-kind.
His wife, not fuffer'd from his fide to ftray,
Was captive kept, he watch'd her night and day,
Abridg'd her pleasures, and confin'd her fway.
Full oft in tears did haplefs May complain,
And figh'd full oft; but figh'd and wept in vain :
She look'd on Damian with a lover's eye;
For, oh, 'twas fix'd, she must poffefs ar die !
Nor lefs impatience vex'd her amorous Squire,
Wild with delay, and burning with defire.
Watch'd as the was, yet could he not refrain
By fecret writing to difclofe his pain:
The dame by figns reveal'd her kind intent,
Till both were confcious what each other meant.

Ah, gentle knight, what could thy eyes avail, Though they could fee as far as fhips can fail? 'Tis better, fure, when blind, deceiv'd to be, Than be deluded when a man can fee!

Argus himself, fo cautious and fo wife, Was over-watch'd, for all his hundred eyes; So many an honeft husband may, 'tis known, Who, wifely, never thinks the cafe his own.

The dame at laft, by diligence and care, Procur'd the key her knight was wont to bear; She took the wards in wax before the fire, And gave th' impreffion to the trusty Squire. By means of this, fome wonder fhall appear, Which, in due place and season, you may hear.

Well fung fweet Ovid, in the days of yore, What flight is that, which love will not explore? And Pyramus and 1 hifbe plainly fhow The feats true lovers, when they lift, can do: Though watch'd and captive, yet in spite of all, They found the art of kifling through a wall.

But now no longer from our tale to stray; It happ'd, that once upon a fummer's day, Our reverend knight was urg'd to amorous play; He rais'd his spouse ere Matin bell was rung, And thus his morning canticle he fung.

Awake, my love, difclose thy radiant eyes; Arife, my wife, my beauteous lady, rife! Hear how the doves with penfive notes com

plain,

And in folt murmurs tell the trees their pain:

The winter's paft; the clouds and tempefts fly;
The fun adorns the fields, and brightens all the sky.
Fair without spot, whofe every charming part
My befom wounds, and captivates my heart;
Come, and in mutual pleasure let's engage,
Joy of my life, and comfort of my age.

This heard, to Damian straight a figo she made,
To hafte before; the gentle Squire obey'd:
Secret, and undefcry'd, he took his way,
And ambush'd close behind an arbour lay.

It was not long ere January came,
And hand in hand with him his lovely dame;
Blind as he was, not doubting all was fure,
He turn'd the key, and made the gate fecure.

Here let us walk, he faid, obferv'd by none,
Conscious of pleasures to the world unknown:
So may my foul have joy, as thou, my wife,
Art far the deareft folace of my life;
And rather would I choofe, by Heaven above,
To die this inftant, than to lofe thy love.
Reflect what truth was in my paffion fhown,
When unendow'd I took thee for my own,
And fought no treasure but thy heart alone.
Old as I am, and now depriv'd of fight,
Whilft thou art faithful to thy own true knight,
Nor age nor blindness rob me of delight.
Each other lofs with patience I can bear,
The lofs of thee is what I only fear.

Confider then, my lady, and my wife,
The folid comforts of a virtuous life.
As, first, the love of Chrift himself you gain;
Next, your own honour undefil'd maintain;
And lastly, that which fure your mind must move,
My whole eftate fhall gratify your love :
Make your own terms, and e'er to-morrow's fun
Difplays his light, by Heaven, it fhall be done.
I feal the contract with a holy kifs,

And will perform, by this-my dear, and this-
Have comfort, spouse, nor think thy Lord unkind;
'Tis love, not jealousy, that fires my mind.
For when thy charms my fober thoughts engage,
And join'd to them my own unequal age,
From thy dear fide I have no power to part,
Such fecret tranfports warm my melting heart.
For who, that once poffefs'd those heavenly charms,
Could live one moment abfent from thy arms?

He ceas'd, and May with modeft grace reply'd (Weak was her voice, as while the spoke the cry'd):

Heaven knows (with that a tender sigh she drew)
I have a foul to fave as well as you;
And, what no lefs you to my charge commend,
My dearest honour, will to death defend.
To you in holy church I gave my hand,
And join'd my heart in wedlock's facred band:
Yet, after this, if you diftruft my care,
Then hear, my lord, and witness what I swear.
First, may the yawning earth her bofom rend,
And let me hence to hell alive descend;
Or die the death I dread no lefs than hell,
Sew'd in a fack, and plung'd into a well;
Ere I my fame by one lewd act disgrace,
Or once renounce the honour of my race:
For know, Sir Knight, of gentle blood I came
I lothe a whore, and startle at the name.

But jealous men on their own crimes reflect,
And learn from hence their ladies to fufpect:
Elfe why thefe needlefs cautions, Sir, to me?
Thefe doubts and fears of female conftancy!
This chime ftill rings in every lady's ear,
The only strain a wife must hope to hear.

Thus while the spoke, a fidelong glance she caft, Where Damian, kneeling, worshipp'd as the past. She faw him watch the motions of her eye, And fingled out a pear-tree planted nigh: 'Twas charg'd with fruit that made a goodly fhow,

And hung with dangling pears was every bough.
Thither th' obfequious Squire addrefs'd his pace,
And, climbing, in the fummit took his place;
The knight and lady walk'd beneath in view,
Where let us leave them, and our tale purfue.

'Twas now the season when the glorious fun
His heavenly progrefs through the twins had run;
And Jove, exalted, his mild influence yields,
To glad the glebe, and paint the flowery fields.
Clear was the day, and Phœbus, rifing bright,
Had freak'd the azure firmament with light;
He pierc'd the glittering clouds with golden ftreams,
And warm'd the womb of earth with genial beams.
It fo befel, in that fair morning-tide,
The fairies fported on the garden fide,
And in the midst their monarch and his bride.
So featly tripp'd the light-foot ladies round,
The knights fo nimbly o'er the greenfword
bound,
[ground.

}

That scarce they bent the flowers, or touch'd the
The dances ended, all the fairy train
For pinks and daifies fearch'd the flowery plain;
While, on a bank reclin'd of rifing green,
Thus, with a frown, the king bespoke his queen.
'Tis too apparent, argue what you can,
The treachery you women use to man:

A thoufand authors have this truth made out,
And fad experience leaves no room for doubt.
Heaven reft thy fpirit, noble Solomon,

A wiler monarch never faw the fun;
All wealth, all honours, the fupreme degree
Of earthly blifs, was well beftow'd on thee!
For fagely haft thou faid: Of all mankind,
One only juft and righteous hope to find:
But shouldst thou search the spacious world around,
Yet one good woman is not to be found.

Thus fays the king, who knew your wickedness: The fon of Sirach teftifies no lefs. So may fome wildfire on your bodies fall, Or fone devouring plague confume you all. As well you view the lecher in the tree, And well this honourable knight you fee: But fince he's blind and old (a helpless cafe), His Squire fhall cuckold him before your face. Now, by my own dread majesty I fwear, And by this awful fceptre which I bear, No impious wretch fhall 'scape unpunish'd long, That in my presence offers fuch a wrong. I will this inftant undeceive the knight, And in the very act restore his fight; And let the ftrumpet here in open view, A warning to thefe ladies, and to you, And all the faithlefs fex, for ever to be true.

And will you fo, reply'd the queen, indeed? Now, by my mother's foul it is decreed, She fhall not want an answer at her need. For her, and for her daughters, I'll engage, And all the fex in each fucceeding age! Art fhall be theirs, to varnish an offence, And fortify their crime with confidence. Nay, were they taken in a ftrict embrace, Seen with both eyes, and pinion'd on the place; All they shall need is to protest and swear, Breathe a foft figh, and drop a tender tear; Till their wife hufbands, gull'd by arts like these, Grow gentle, tractable, and tame as geele.

What though this flanderous Jew, this Solomon, Call'd women fools, and knew full many a one; The wifer wits of later times declare,

How conftant, chafte, and virtuous, women are ;
Witness the martyrs, who refign'd their breath,
Serene in torments, unconcern'd in death;
And witnefs next what Roman authors tell,
How Arria, Portia, and Lucretia fell.

But, fince the facred leaves to all are free,
And men interpret texts, why should not we?
By this no more was meant, than to have shown,
That fovereign goodnefs dwells in him alone
Who only is, and is but only One.

But grant the worft; fhall women then be weigh'd
By every word, that Solomon has faid?

What though this king (as ancient story boasts)
Built a fair temple to the Lord of Hofts;
He ceas'd at laft his Maker to adore,
And did as much for idol gods, or more.
Beware what lavifh praifes you confer
On a rank lecher and idolater;
Whofe reign, indulgent God, fays holy writ,
Did but for David's righteous fake permit;
David, the monarch after heaven's own mind,
Who lov'd our sex, and honour'd all our kind.

Well, I'm a woman, and as fuch muft speak;
Silence would fwell me, and my heart would break.
Know then, fcorn your dull authorities,
Your idle wits, and all their learned lies.
By heaven, thofe authors are our fex's foes,
Whom, in our right, I must and will oppofe,
Nay (quoth the king) dear madam, be not
wroth:

I yield it up; but fince I gave my oath,
That this much-injur'd knight again should fee,
It must be done-I am a king, said he,
And one, whofe faith has ever facred been.

And fo has mine (she said)—I am a queen:
Her anfwer the fhall have, I undertake;
And thus an end of all dispute I make.
Try when you lift; and you fhall find, my lord,
It is not in our fex to break our word.

We leave them here in, this heroic strain, And to the knight our ftory turns again; Who in the garden, with his lovely May, Sung merrier than the cuckoo or the jay: This was his fong; "Oh kind and constant be, "Conftant and kind I'll ever prove to thee."

Thus finging as he went, at last he drew By easy steps, to where the pear-tree grew: The longing dame look'd up, and spy'd her love Full fairly perch'd among the boughs above.

« AnteriorContinuar »