That nature's every where the same,
Each passing day discovers;
For that in me
Some charms they see,
Behold me, though a country dame,
Leading a crowd of lovers.

II.

My sporting squire to keep at bay
The course I'll double over,
Whilst he, intent
On a wrong scent,
Shall always find me stole away
When he cries " Hark to cover.
"
III.

With new-coin'd oaths, my grenadier

I.

He, whose whole treasure one dear vessel bears,
Thro' seas, on which destructive pirates swarm,
Must be excus'd a thousand fears and cares ,
And bend his soul to ev'ry strong alarm .

II.

Ill do they love , and feel thee, at their heart ,
Who seem unmov'd , while others hope thee theirs ;
My kindling bosom burns, with open smart ,
For my proud soul her unveil'd meaning wears.

III.

AT THE Twenty -F IFTH A NNIVERSARY OF THE C LASS OF 1839

I

Shall the first strain upon the lyre unused
Speak as of old,
When oft it told
Of blush and sigh,
Of hope and fear
And smile and tear,
Of those most beautiful in boyhood's eye?
Shall it sing her, the queen of camps and groves,
Sing of our loves?
So let it sing again;
Surely as men,
In the refrain
Of that eternal strain,
We can sound chords of which we knew not then!

II

Oh! thou eclipse , and glory , of thy kind!
Thou vast o'erwhelmer of the drowning mind!
Bid me not write my thoughts, or speak my pain,
'Till thou hast giv'n me back my soul, again:
As well might shipwreck'd slaves, who, floating , lie,
Swim, through the billowy storms , which sweep the sky,
As my poor sighing breast its torments show,
And paint, in cool description, burning woe .
Lost to sense, mem'ry, meaning — all, but thee!
I drag on life's dull load, in misery .
Absent, from those dear eyes' destructive shine,

Venus now no more behold me,
But an humble village dame,
Coarse and homely trappings fold me,
And Mistress Maudlin is my name.

Yet here no less is paid that duty
Ever due to Venus' worth,
Not more insensible of beauty
Than gods in heaven, are men on earth,

This emblem's forth the world aright,
Which now shines on me hot and bright,
Now it blowes cold on me,
But ne're wil constant be;
'Tis just like the weather,
Hot and cold together.
One while it mee with many favours crownes,
Anon it stabs me with as many frownes.

Why do I then my trust put in it,
Seeing it varies every minute?
I may goe court the moon,
And stop her course, as soon
As bind the world to stay
My faithful friend a day.
If it be so inconstant, I intend
To seek out if I can, a surer friend.

Three gallant knights ride down the road, —
They use nor spur nor rein;
In laugh and jest they little bode
That on this way their steeds have trod
They turn not back again.

They laugh and chat along the way,
These noble lords of Spain, —
No haste to go, no care to stay,
A dusty road, a sunny day;
And little heed the three that they
Will ne'er go back again.

" Groom, take this horse; Boy, feed him well! "
Ah, me, a caution vain!
Yet not one warning voice to tell
How ends this Council of the Bell,

Have we not had a fruitful yeer of grain,
Fair weather too to bring it in amaine?
And shall we not an offering to Him pay,
Who gives us richly all things to enjoy?
Did not the heathens shew their thankfulnesse
To their corn-goddess Ceres, and expresse
The same by sacrifices of the best?
And shal we faile our thanks to manifest
To our true God, who bears the Christian name?
O let not us fall short of them for shame!
But what wil He accept? What shal we bring?
A sheafe of wheat, or some such trivial thing?

Courts Comender, states maintayner,
Potentates defender, goverments Joyner
Princes prayser, churches Preacher
Arts rayser, virtues teacher
Ages rewarder, Honnors strengthner
Beautys guarder, favours lengthner
Witts admirer, wisedomes scholler
Physickes desirer, Lawes follower
Fortunes blamer, natures observer
Justice proclaimer, Frindships preserver,
Retorninge the halter, Contemning the wrong.

Courts scorne states disgracinge
potentates scoffe govermentes defacinge
prelates nip churches unhollowinge
artes injure vertues debasinge
ages monster honors wastinge
bewties blemishe favors blastinge
wittes excrement, wisdomes vomitt
Phisickes scome, lawes comett
Fortunes child, natures defilde
Justice revenge freindshipe beguild
Such is the songe such is the author
Worthie to be rewarded with a halter