Alas! the change! from scenes of joy and rest, Stretched on his back, a mighty lubbard, lay, And his half-opened eyne he shut straightway; He led, I wot, the softest way to death, And taught withoutent pain and strife to yield the breath. Of limbs enormous, but withal unsound, For still he drank, and yet he still was dry. Mother of Spleen, in robes of various dye, Who vexed was full oft with ugly fit; And some her frantic deemed, and some her deemed a wit. A lady proud she was of ancient blood, Yet oft her fear her pride made crouchent low; And sought all physic which the shops bestow, Făst by her side a listless maiden pined, With aching head, and squeamish heart-burnings And here the Tertian shakes his chilling wings: *Eath, easy. En is often placed at the end of a word is Spenser, to lengthen it a syllable. LESSON CCIII. Address of the Bard in the train of Industry, to the inhabitants of the Castle of Indolence.-IBID. THE bard obeyed; and taking from his side, Light o'er the chords his raptured hand he flung, The whilst, like midnight mute, ten thousands round him throng. Thus, ardent, burst his strain-"Ye hapless race! And gives us wide o'er earth unquestioned sway, Almighty power, and all-directing day, To seraphs, burning round the Almighty's throne, fection forms, and with perfection bliss. needeth proof: to prove it were, I wis,* To prove the beauteous world excels the brute abyss. "Is not the field, with lively culture green, A sight more joyous than the dead morăss? And fanned by sprightly Zephyrs, far surpass *Wis, for wist, to know, think, understand. "It was not by vile loitering in ease, That Greece obtained the brighter palm of art, And o'er the nations shook her conquering dart: "Had unambitious mortals minded nought With brother-brutes the human race had grazed; None e'er had soared to fame, none honored been, none praised. 66 Croat Haman'a aang had never fixed the broast. To thirst of glory, and heroic deeds; Our Milton's Eden had lain wrapt in weeds, Our Shakspeare strolled and laughed with Warwick swains, Ne had my master Spenser charmed his Mulla's plains. "Dumb, too, had been the sage historic Muse, And perished all the sons of ancient fame; Those starry lights of virtue, that diffuse Through the dark depth of time their vivid flame, Who in the public breach devoted stood, "But should to fame your hearts unfeeling be, Toil, and be glad! let Industry inspire And exercise of health. In proof of this, As May ve vi, and wants we bay wind, Rampant with life, their joy all joy exceeds; Yet what but high-strung health this dancing pleasaunce* breeds! "But here, instead, is fostered every ill, Which or distempered minds or bodies know. Come then, my kindred Spirits! do not spill Your talents here. This place is but a show, Whose charms delude you to the den of Wo: Come, follow me; I will direct you right, Where Pleasure's roses, void of serpents, grow, Sincere as sweet come, follow this good Knight,† And you will bless the day that brought him to your sight. "Some he will lead to courts, and some to camps, To senates some, and public sage debates, Where, by the solemn gleam of midnight-lamps, The world is poised, and managed mighty states; To high discovery some, that new creates The face of earth; some to the thriving mart; Some to the rural reign and softer fates; To the sweet Muses some, who raise the heart: All glory shall be yours, all Nature, and all Art. *Pleasaunce, pleasure. +Industry. "There are, I see, who listen to my lay, To quit of torpid sluggishness the lair, "Would you then learn to dissipate the band Here to mankind indulged; control desire; Speak the commânding word—I Will !-and it is done. Heavens! can you then thus waste, in shameful wise, Heirs of eternity! yborn to rise Through endless states of being, still more near Can you renounce a fortune so sublime Such glorious hopes-your backward steps to steer, And roll, with vilest brutes, through mud and slime? No! no! your heaven-touched hearts disdain the sordid crime!" LESSON CCIV. The Ass and the Nightingale.-KRILOV. [From Bowring's Russian Anthology.] An ass a nightingale espied, And shouted out, "Holla! holla! good friend! Now let me hear thee, that I may decide; I really wish to know-the world is partial ever- *Yborn, born,-pronounced e-born. |