A querulous old woman's voice His hum'rous talent next employs, He scolds, and gives the lie. And now he sings, and now is sick, Here Sally, Susan, come, come quick, Poor Poll is like to die! 30 Belinda and her bird! 'tis rare, To meet with such a well-match'd pair, Each character in ev'ry part Sustain'd with so much grace and art, And both in unison. When children first begin to spell, And stammer out a syllable, We think them tedious creatures; But difficulties soon abate, When birds are to be taught to prate, And women are the teachers. 40 TRANSLATION OF PRIOR'S CHLOE AND EUPHELIA. MERCATOR, vigiles oculos ut fallere possit, Lené sonat liquidumque meis Euphelia chordis, Ad speculum ornabat nitidos Euphelia crines, Cum dixit mea lux, heus, cane, sume lyram. Namque lyram juxtà positam cum carmine vidit, Suave quidem carmen dulcisonamque lyram. Fila lyræ vocemque paro, suspiria surgunt, Et miscent numeris murmura mæsta meis, 10 Dumque tuæ memoro laudes, Euphelia, formæ, Tota anima intereà pendet ab ore Chlöes. Subrubet illa pudore, et contrahit altera frontem, Me torquet mea mens conscia, psallo, tremo; Atque Cupidineâ dixit Dea cincta coronâ, Heu! fallendi artem quam didicere parum. 16 THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN; SHOWING HOW HE WENT FARTHER THAN HE INTENDED, AND CAME SAFE HOME AGAIN. JOHN GILPIN was a citizen Of credit and renown, A trainband captain eke was he John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years, yet we No holiday have seen. To morrow is our wedding-day, And we will then repair Unto the Bell at Edmonton All in a chaise and pair. My sister, and my sister's child, Will fill the chaise; so you must ride On horseback after we. He soon replied, I do admire And you are she, my dearest dear, I am a linendraper bold, As all the world doth know, And my good friend the calender Will lend his horse to go. 10 20 |