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'Twas hers to be false and to change,
'Tis mine to be constant-and die.
If, while my hard fate I sustain,

In her breast any pity is found;
Let her come with the nymphs of the plain,
And see me laid low in the ground,
The last humble boon that I crave,

Is to shade me with cypress and yew:
And when she looks down on my grave,
Let her own that her shepherd was true,
Then to her new love let her go,

And deck her in golden array :

Be finest at every fine show.

And frolic it all the long day:
While Colin, forgotten and gone,

No more shall be talked off or seen,
Unless when, beneath the pale moon,

His ghost shall glide over the green.

ass

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2. THE COUNTRY FELLOWS AND THE ASS. A country fellow and his son, they tell In modern fables, had an ass to sell: For this intent, they turned it out to play, And fed so well, that by the destined day They brought the creature into sleek repair, And drove it gently to a neighbouring fair. As they were jogging on, a rural class Was heard to say, "Look! look there, at that And those two blockheads trudging on each side, They have not, either of 'em, sense to ride : Asses all three!" And thus the country folks On man and boy began to cut their jokes. Th' old fellow minded nothing that they said, But every word stuck in the young one's head; And thus began their comment thereupon: "Ne'er heed'em, lad," "Nay, father, do get on." "Not I indeed." "Why, then let me, I pray." "Well, do; and see what prating tongues will say." The boy was mounted; and they had not got Much further on, before another knot,

Just as the ass was pacing by, pad, pad,
Cried, "O! that lazy booby of a lad!
How unconcernedly the gaping brute
Lets the poor aged fellow walk a-foot.”
Down came the son on hearing this account,

And begged, and prayed, and made his father mount! Till a third party, on a further stretch,

"See! See!" exclaimed, "that old hard-hearted wretch ! How like a justice there he sits, or squire;

While the poor lad keeps wading through the mire."

"Stop!" cried the lad, still vexed in deeper mind,

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Stop, father, stop; let me get on behind."

This done, they thought they certainly should please.
Escape reproaches, and be both at ease;
For having tried each practicable way,
What could be left for jokers now to say?
Still disappointed by succeeding tone,
"Hark ye, you fellows! Is that ass your ow
Get off! for shame! or one of you at least!
You both deserve to carry the poor beast!
Ready to drop down dead upon the road,
With such a huge unconscionable load."
On this they both dismounted; and, some say,
Contrived to carry, like a truss of hay,

The ass between them; prints, they add, are seen,
With man and lad, and slinging ass between;
Others omit that fancy in the print,

As overstraining an ingenious hint.

The copy that we follow, says, the man

Rubbed down the ass, and took to his first plan.
Walked to the fair, and sold him, got his price,
And gave his son this pertinent advice:
“Let talkers talk; stick thou to what is best;
To think of pleasing all—is all a jest."

CXXXVI. SOMERVILLE.

1. HARE-HUNTING.

Hark! from yon covert, where those tow'ring oaks

Above the humble copse aspiring rise,

What glorious triumphs burst in ev'ry gale

Upon our ravish'd ears! the hunters shout:
The clanging horns swell their sweet winding notes;
The pack wide opening load the trembling air
With various melody; from tree to tree
The propagated cry redoubling bounds,
And winged zephyrs waft the floating joy
Through all the regions near: afflictive birch
No more the schoolboy dreads; his prison broke,
Scampering he flies, nor heeds his master's call;
The weary traveller forgets his road.

And climbs the adjacent hill: the plowman leaves
The unfinished furrow; nor the bleating flocks
Are now the shepherd's joy; men, boys, and girls
Desert the unpeopled village: and wild crowds
Spread o'er the plain, by the sweet phrensy seized

2. THE OYSTER.

Two comrades, as grave authors say,
(But in what chapter, page, or line,
Ye critics, if ye please, define)

Had found an oyster in their way.
Contest and foul debate arose,

Both view'd at once with greedy eyes,
Both challenged the delicious prize,
And high words soon improved to blows.
Actions on actions hence succeed,
Each hero's obstinately stout,

Green bags and parchments fly about,
Pleadings are drawn and counsel fee'd,
The parson of the place, kind man,
Whose kind and charitable heart
In human ills still bore a part,
Thrice shook his head, and thus began:
"Neighbours and friends, refer to me
This doughty matter in dispute:
I'll soon decide the important suit,
And finish all without a fee.
Give me the oyster then-'tis well!"
He opens it, and at one sup
Gulphs the contested trifle up,

And smiling gives to each a shell.

"Henceforth let foolish discord cease,
Your oyster's good as e'er was eat;
I thank you for my dainty treat,
God bless you both, and live in peace."

CXXXVII. GEORGE LILLO.
1. HONOUR.

Fly from the appearance of dishonour far,
Virtue is arbitrary, nor admits debate,
To doubt is treason in her rigid court:
But, if ye parley with the foe, you're lost.

2. MEN'S PASSIONS.

What fools are men,

Whom love and hatred, anger, hope, and fear,
And all the various passions, rule by turns,
And in their several turns alike deceive.
3. INNOCENCE.

The soul which conscious innocence sustains,
Supports with ease these temporary pains;
But, stung with guilt, and loaded by despair,
Becomes itself a burden none can bear.

4. FEAR.

The wretch who fears all that is possible,
Must suffer more than he who feels the worst
A man can feel, who lives exempt from fear.
CXXXVIII. ALLAN RAMSAY.

THE RUSTIC COQUETTE.

Daft gowk! leave aff that silly whingeing way;
Scem careless-there's my hand ye'll win the day.
Hear how I served my lass I lo’e as weel
As ye do Jenny, and wi' heart as leal.
Last morning I was gye and early out,
Upon a dyke I lean'd, glow'ring about;
I saw my Meg come linkin' o'er the lee;
I saw my Meg, but Meggy saw nae me--
For yet the sun was wading thro' the mist,
And she was close upon me ere she wist-
Her coats was kiltit, and did sweetly shaw
Her straught bare legs, that whiter were than snaw.

Her cockernony snooded up fu' sleek,
Her haffet-locks hang waving on her cheek;
Her cheeks sae ruddy, and her een sae clear;
And O! her mouth's like ony hinny pear.
Neat, neat she was, in bustine waistcoat clean,
As she cam skiffing o'er the dewy green :
Blythesome, I cried "My bonny Meg, come here,
I ferly wherefore ye're sae soon asteer;

But I can guess-ye're gawn to gather dew."
She scour'd awa, and said "What's that to you? "
"Then fare ye weel, Meg Dorts, and e'en's ye like."
I careless cried, and lap in o'er the dyke.
I trow, when that she saw, within a crack,
She cam wi' a right thieveless errand back ;
Misca'd me first, then bade me hound my dog,
To wear up three waff ewes stray'd on the bog.
I leugh, and sae did she; then wi' great haste
I clasp'd my arms about her neck and waist-
About her yielding waist, and took a fouth
O' sweetest kisses frae her glowing mouth.
While hard and fast I held her in my grips,
My very saul came louping to my lips.
Sair, sair she flet wi' me 'sween ilka smack,
But weel I kend she meant nae as she spak.
Dear Roger, when your jo puts on her gloom,
Do you sae too, and never fash
your thoom-
Seem to forsake her, soon she'll change her mood;
Gae woo anither, and she'll gang clean wud.

CXXXIX. WILLIAM OLDYS.

TO A FLY.

Busy, curious, thirsty fly,

Drink with me, and drink as I;

Freely welcome to my cup,

Couldst thou sip, and sip it up.

Make the most of life you may,
Life is short and wears away.
Both alike are mine and thine,
Hastening quick to their decline:

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