Then came the Autumn, all in yellow clad,
As though he joyed in his plenteous store,
Laden with fruits that made him laugh, full glad
That he had banish'd hunger, which to-fore
Had by the belly oft him pinched sore;
Upon his head a wreath, that was enrolled"
With ears of corn of every sort, he bore;
And in his hand a sickle he did hold,

To reap the ripen'd fruits the which the earth had yold.'

Lastly, came Winter, clothed all in frize,

Chattering his teeth for cold that did him chill; Whilst on his hoary beard his breath did freeze, And the dull drops, that from his purpled bill As from a limbeck* did adown distil:

In his right hand a tipped staff he held, With which his feeble steps he stayed still; For he was faint with cold, and weak with eld," That scarce his loosed limbs he able was to weld."

And after these there came the Day and Night, Riding together both with equal pace; The one on a palfrey black, the other white; But Night had covered her uncomely face With a black veil, and held in hand a mace, On top whereof the moon and stars were pight," And Sleep and Darkness round about did trace: But Day did bear upon his sceptre's height The goodly Sun encompass'd all with beamës bright.

to-fore, before this time.

i yold, yielded.

eld, old age.

henrolled, rolled in, surrounded by. klimbeck, an alembic or still.

mweld, to wield.

"pight, placed, pitched.

Then came the Hours, fair daughters of high Jove And timely Night; the which were all endued With wondrous beauty fit to kindle love;

But they were virgins all, and love eschew'd' That might forslack the charge to them foreshowed

By mighty Jove, who did them porters make Of heaven's gate (whence all the gods issued) Which they did daily watch, and nightly wake By even turns, nor ever did their charge forsake. And after all came Life; and, lastly, Death: Death with most grim and grisly visage seen, Yet is he nought but parting of the breath; Ne' aught to see, but like a shade to ween,' Unbodied, unsoul'd, unheard, unseen; But Life was like a fair young lusty boy, Such as they feign Dan" Cupid to have been, Full of delightful health and lively joy,

Deck'd all with flowers and wings of gold fit to employ.

SPENSER.

⚫ timely, coming in due season.

Peschewed, avoided.

forslack, cause to be neglected.

foreshowed, previously shown and intrusted.

ne, nor.

to ween, to think of.

"Dan, Master. Sir, like the Spanish Don.

THE PASSIONS, FEELINGS,

AFFECTIONS, &c.

THE PASSIONS.

WHEN MUSIC, heavenly Maid, was young,
While yet in early Greece she sung,
The passions oft, to hear her shell,
Throng'd around her magic cell:
Exulting, trembling, raging, fainting,
Possess'd beyond the Muse's painting,
By turns they felt the glowing mind
Disturb'd, delighted, raised, refined;
Till once, 'tis said, when all were fired,
Fill'd with fury, rapt, inspired,
From the supporting myrtles round
They snatch'd her instruments of sound;
And as they oft had heard apart
Sweet lessons of her forceful art,
Each,-for madness ruled the hour,-
Would prove his own expressive power.
First FEAR his hand, its skill to try,
Amid the chords bewilder'd laid;
And back recoil'd, he knew not why,
Ev'n at the sound himself had made.
Next ANGER rush'd, his eyes on fire,
In lightnings own'd his secret stings;
In one rude clash he struck the lyre,
And swept with hurried hand the strings.

With woeful measures wan DESPAIR,
Low sullen sounds his grief beguiled;
A solemn, strange, and mingled air;
"Twas sad by fits, by starts 'twas wild.

But thou, O HOPE! with eyes so fair,
What was thy delighted measure?
Still it whisper'd promised pleasure,
And bade the lovely scenes at distance hail.
Still would her touch the strain prolong;
And from the rocks, the woods, the vale,
She call'd on Echo still through all the song;
And where her sweetest theme she chose,
A soft responsive voice was heard at every close;
And Hope enchanted smiled, and view'd her golden
hair.

And longer had she sung; but, with a frown,
REVENGE impatient rose :

He threw his blood-stain'd sword in thunder down,
And, with a withering look,

The war-denouncing trumpet took,

And blew a blast so loud and dread,

Were ne'er prophetic sounds so full of woe;

And ever and anon he beat

The double drum with furious heat;

And tho' sometimes, each dreary pause between, Dejected PITY at his side

Her soul-subduing voice applied,

Yet still he kept his wild unalter'd mien, While each strain'd ball of sight seem'd bursting from his head.

Thy numbers, JEALOUSY, to nought were fix'd; Sad proof of thy distressful state !

Of diff'ring themes the veering song was mix'd, And now it courted LovE, now raving call'd on

HATE.

With eyes upraised, as one inspired, Pale MELANCHOLY sat retired, And from her wild sequester'd seat, In notes by distance made more sweet, Pour'd thro' the mellow horn her pensive soul. And clashing soft from rocks around

Bubbling runnels join'd the sound;

Thro' glades and glooms the mingled measure stole,

Or o'er some haunted streams, with fond delay,
Round a holy calm diffusing,

Love of peace and lonely musing,

In hollow murmurs died away.

But, O! how alter'd was its sprightly tone, When CHEERFULNESS, a nymph of healthiest Her bow across her shoulder hung,

[hue,

Her buskins gemm'd with morning dew, Blew an inspiring air, that dale and thicket rung, The Hunter's call, to Fawn and Dryad known; The oak-crown'd sisters and their chaste-eyed Satyrs and sylvan boys, were seen Peeping from forth their alleys green; Brown Exercise rejoiced to hear,

[queen,

And Sport leap'd up, and seiz'd his beechen spear. Last came Joy's ecstatic trial:

He, with viny crown advancing,

First to the lively pipe his hand address'd;
But soon he saw the brisk, awakening viol,

Whose sweet entrancing voice he loved the best,
They would have thought, who heard the strain.