Ah, Witherington! more years thy life had crown'd, 109 All in the land of Essex next he chants, Then he was seiz'd with a religious qualm, Why should I tell of Bateman, or of Shore, And how the grass now grows where Troy town His carols ceas'd: the listening maids and swains Seem still to hear some soft imperfect strains. Sudden he rose; and, as he reels along, The power that guards the drunk, his sleep attends, Ver. 109. A song of Sir J. Denham's. See his poems. Ver. 112. Et fortunatam, si nunquam armenta fuissent, VIRG. Ver. 117. Quid loquar aut Scyllam Nisi, &c. Ver. 117-120. Old English ballads. FABLE. THE FARMER'S WIFE AND THE RAVEN. "WHY are those tears? why droops your head? Is then your other husband dead? Or does a worse disgrace betide ? The salt is spilt, to me it fell; Next post some fatal news shall tell : Betwixt her swagging panniers' load "That Raven on yon left-hand oak (Curse on his ill-betiding croak!) 302 Bodes me no good." No more she said, I knew misfortune in the note." "Dame," quoth the Raven, "spare your oaths, FABLE. THE TURKEY AND THE ANT. In other men we faults can spy, A Turkey, tir'd of common food, "Draw near, my birds! the mother cries, This hill delicious fare supplies; Behold the busy negro race, See millions blacken all the place! An Ant, who climb'd beyond his reach, Thus answer'd from the neighbouring beech: "Ere you remark another's sin, Bid thy own conscience look within ; Control thy more voracious bill, MATTHEW GREEN. MATTHEW ATTHEW GREEN, a truly original poet, was born, probably at London, in 1696. His parents were respectable Dissenters, who brought him up within the limits of the sect. His learning was confined to a little Latin; but, from the frequency of his classical allusions, it may be concluded that what he read when young, he did not forget. The austerity in which he was educated had the effect of inspiring him with settled disgust; and he fled from the gloom of dissenting worship when he was no longer compelled to attend it. Thus set loose from the opinions of his youth, he speculated very freely on religious topics, and at length adopted the system of outward compliance with established forms and inward laxity of belief. He seems at one time to have been much inclined to the principles of Quakerism; but he found that its practice would not agree with one who lived " by pulling off the hat." We find that he had obtained a place in the Custom-house, the duties of which he is said to have discharged with great diligence and fidelity. It is further attested, that he was a man of great |