Force he prepar'd, but check'd the rash design; Vimque parat: sed vi non est opus; inque figura 120 123 OF ENGLISH POETS. [Done by the Author in his youth.] I. CHAUCER. WOMEN ben full of ragerie, Yet swinken nat sans secresie. Ho!" quoth another, "Cozen John;" And stoppen, and lough, and callen out,-- "Bette is to pine on coals and chalke, II. SPENSER. The Alley. I. In ev'ry town where Thamis rolls his tyde, 26 5 The short thick sob, loud scream, and shriller squall: How can ye, mothers, vex your children so ? Some play, some eat, some cack against the wall, And, as they crouchen low, for bread and butter call. II. And on the broken pavement, here and there, Doth many a stinking sprat, and herring, lie; And hens, and dogs, and hogs, are feeding by; 10 15 Now singing shrill, and scolding eft between; hood I ween, III. The snappish cur (the passenger's annoy) 20 C The whimp'ring girl, and hoarser screaming boy, IV. Hard by a sty, beneath a roof of thatch, 25 [drown'd Dwelt Obloquy, who, in her early days, Baskets of fish, at Billingsgate, did watch, 30 Cod, whiting, oyster, mackrel, sprat, or plaice: There learn'd she speech from tongues that never Slander beside her like a magpie chatters, With envy, (spitting Cat) dread foe to peace; Like a curs'd cur, Malice before her clatters, [cease. 35 And vexing ev'ry wight, tears clothes and all to tatters. V. Her dugs were mark'd by ev'ry collier's hand; VI. Such place hath Deptford, navy-building town, 40 45 H IMITATIONS OF ENGLISH POETS. Such Lambeth, envy of each band and gown, 23 And Twick'nam such, which fairer scenes enrich, Grots, statues, urns, and Jo---n's dog and bitch. 50 Ne village is without, on either side, All up the silver Thames, or all adown; Ne Richmond's self, from whose tall front are ey'd Vales, spires, meandring streams, and Windsor's tow'ry pride. FAIR III. WALLER. On a Lady singing to her lute. 54 5 AIR charmer! cease; nor make your voice's prize A heart resign'd the conquest of your eyes: Well might, alas! that threaten'd vessel fail, Which winds and lightning both at once assail. We were too bless'd with these enchanting lays, Which must be heav'nly when an angel plays; But killing charms your lover's death contrive, Lest heav'nly music should be heard alive. Orpheus could charm the trees; but thus a tree, Taught by your hand, can charm no less than he. 10 A poet made the silent wood pursue; This vocal wood had drawn the poet too. "Aura On a Fan of the Author's design, in which was painted the COME, gentle Air! th' Æolian shepherd said, |