Not that, in truth, when life began, But now his "fervent youth" had flown Yet still he loved the chase, and held But most his measured words of praise His rustic diet. Not that his "meditating" rose With fruitless prying; But held, as law for high and low, What God withholds no man can know, And smiled away inquiry so, Without replying. We read-alas, how much we read! The jumbled strifes of creed and creed With endless controversies feed Our groaning tables; His books-and they sufficed him—were Cotton's "Montaigne," "The Grave" of Blair, A "Walton "-much the worse for wearAnd "Esop's Fables." One more,- It may be that he could not count Once he had loved, but failed to wed, And still when time had turned him gray, "In Cœlo Quies" heads the stone The "Benefactions" still declare Lie softly, Leisure! Doubtless you With too serene a conscience drew Your easy breath, and slumbered through The gravest issue; But we, to whom our age allows Scarce space to wipe our weary brows, Look down upon your narrow house, Old friend, and miss you! A GENTLEWOMAN OF THE OLD SCHOOL HE lived in Georgian era too. SHE Most women then, if bards be true, Succumbed to Routs and Cards, or grew Devout and acid. But hers was neither fate. She came Patience or Prudence,-what you will, And for her youthful portrait take Some long-waist child of Hudson's make, Stiffly at ease beside a lake With swans and willows. I keep her later semblance placed Beside my desk,-'tis lawned and laced, In shadowy sanguine stipple traced By Bartolozzi; A placid face, in which surprise For her e'en Time grew debonair. And lingering dimples, Had spared to touch the fair old face, So left her beautiful. Her age Was comely as her youth was sage, Indeed, affirmed by one or two, Some spark at Bath (as sparks will do) Which Urban printed. I know she thought; I know she felt ; As of the Saxon; I know she played and sang, for yet |