50. THE TWA CATS AND THE CHEESE TWA cats anes on a cheese did light, Fell out in sharing o' the prize. "Fair play!" said ane; "ye bite o'er thick ; 1 Cheese. 2 Cross. 3 Tastes. Then to the other hauf he fell, 1 An' tenting how the matter went, Cried "Come, come, Sir, we're baith content!" "Ye fools!" quoth he; "an' justice too Maun be content as weel as you ! " Thus grumbled they, then he went on, Till baith the ha'ves were near-hand done. O' gawn for nignies 3 to the law, ALLAN RAMSAY 51. THE QUESTION I DREAMED that, as I wandered by the way, Bare Winter suddenly was changed to Spring, And gentle odours led my steps astray, Mixed with a sound of waters murmuring, Along a shelving bank of turf, which lay 2 Folly. Its green arms round the bosom of the stream, But kissed it, and then fled, as thou mightest in dream. There grew pied wind-flowers 1 and violets; Daisies, those pearled Arcturi2 of the earth, The constellated flower that never sets; Faint oxslips; tender bluebells, at whose birth The sod scarce heaved; and that tall flower 3 that wets Its mother's face with heaven-collected tears, When the low wind its playmate's voice it hears. And in the warm hedge grew lush eglantine, Green cowbind and the moonlight - coloured May, And cherry blossoms, and white cups, whose wine Was the bright dew yet drained not by the day; And wild roses, and ivy serpentine, With its dark buds and leaves, wandering astray; And flowers azure, black, and streaked with gold, Fairer than any wakened eyes behold. And nearer to the river's trembling edge There grew broad flag-flowers, purple prankt with white, And starry river-buds among the sedge, And floating water-lilies, broad and bright, 1 Anemones. ་་ 2 Arcturus is the brightest star in the constellation Boötes. 3 Uncertain the most likely suggestions are crown imperial," large campanula, and tulip. See The Sensitive Plant Which lit the oak that overhung the hedge And bulrushes, and reeds of such deep green Methought that of these visionary flowers I made a nosegay, bound in such a way That the same hues which in their natural bowers Were mingled or opposed, the like array Kept these imprisoned children of the Hours Within my hand,—and then, elate and gay, I hastened to the spot whence I had come, That I might there present it! O to whom? P. B. SHELLEY 52.-A BALLAD UPON A WEDDING I TELL thee, Dick, where I have been, At Charing-Cross, hard by the way, And there did I see coming down 1 The Haymarket, where hay used to be sold. Amongst the rest, one pest’lent fine Our landlord looks like nothing to him; At course-a-park, without all doubt, But wot you what? the youth was going Yet by his leave (for all his haste) The maid-and thereby hangs a tale, No grape that's kindly ripe could be Her finger was so small, the ring 1 An old game. See W. Browne (Britannia's Pastorals)—He coursed a park with females fraught, Which would not run except they might be caught." 2 Whitsun-merrymaking: so, bridal (bride-ale). |