Haply some hoary-headed Swain may say, « Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn • Brushing with hafty steps the dews away • To meet the sun upon the upland lawn. • There at the foot of yonder nodding beech • That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high, • His listless length at noontide would he stretch, • Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn, • Mutt'ring his wayward fancies he would rove, « Now drooping, woeful wan, like one forlorn, Or craz'd with care, or cross'd in hopeless love. One One morn I miss'd him on the custom'd hill, Along the heath and near his fav'rite tree; Another came ; nor yet beside the rill, « Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he; • The next with dirges due in sad array Slow thro' the church-way path we saw him born, • Approach and read (for thou can'st read) the lay, · Grav'd on the stone beneath yon aged thorn. Τ Η Ε Ε Ρ Ι Τ Α Ρ Η. Large was his bounty, and his soul fincere, Heav'n did a recompence as largely send : He gave to Mis’ry all he had, a tear, He gain'd from Heav'n ('twas all he will’d) a friend, No farther seek his merits to disclose, Or draru bis frailties from their dread abode, (* There they alike in trembling hope repose, The bofom of his Father and his God. paventosa speme. Petrarcb. Son. 114. T HE |