With an ambling pad-pony to pace o'er the lawn, And blithe as the lark that each day hails the dawn With a porch at my door, both for shelter and shade too, As the sun-shine or rain may prevail; And a small spot of ground for the use of the spade too, With a barn for the use of the flail : A cow for my dairy, a dog for my game, And a purse when a friend wants to borrow; I'll envy no nabob his riches or fame, Nor what honours await him to-morrow. From the bleak northern blast may my cot be completely Secured by a neighbouring hill; And at night may repose steal upon me more sweetly And while peace and plenty I find at my board, With my friends may I share what to-day may afford, And when I at last must throw off this frail covering But my face in the glass I'll serenely survey, And with smiles count each wrinkle and furrow; As this old worn-out stuff, which is thread-bare to-day, May become everlasting to-morrow. Life! I know not what thou art, Life! we've been long together Through pleasant and through cloudy weather; 'Tis hard to part when friends are dear Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh, a tear; Then steal away, give little warning, Say not Good Night,—but in some brighter clime A. L. Barbauld The Golden Treasury Book Fourth CLXVI ON FIRST LOOKING INTO CHAPMAN'S HOMER Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold Oft of one wide expanse had I been told Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: CLXVII J. Keats ODE ON THE POETS Bards of Passion and of Mirth Book Fourth -Yes, and those of heaven commune Browsed by none but Dian's fawns; Thus ye live on high, and then Bards of Passion and of Mirth Double-lived in regions new! J. Keats 167 CLXVIII LOVE All thoughts, all passions, all delights, Oft in my waking dreams do I The moonshine stealing o'er the scene She lean'd against the arméd man, Few sorrows hath she of her own I The songs that make her grieve. play'd a soft and doleful air, She listen'd with a flitting blush, I told her of the Knight that wore I told her how he pined: and ah! The deep, the low, the pleading tone |