Why shun, as worthless of affiliation, One market morning, in my usual rambles, To let a killing butcher coax A score of lambs and fatted sheep to slaughter. Fierce bark'd the dog, and many a blow was dealt, The cur was silent, for his jaws were full The man had whoop'd and hollow'd till dead hoarse, And thus it stammer'd from a stander-by- "Zounds!--my good fellow,-it quite makes me-why, It really my dear fellow-do just try Conciliation!" Stringing his nerves like flint, The sturdy butcher seiz'd upon the hint,- And hugg'd and lugg'd and tugg'd him neck and crop If tails come off he didn't care a feather,—- Again-good-humoredly to end our quarrel(Good humor should prevail !) I'll fit you with a tale Whereto is tied a moral. Once on a time a certain English lass Was seiz'd with symptoms of such deep decline, Cough, hectic, flushes, ev'ry evil sign, That, as their wont is at such desperate pass, The Doctors gave her over-to an ass. Each morn the patient quaff'd a frothy bowl Robbing a shaggy suckling of a foal Which got proportionably spare and skinny Meanwhile the neighbors cried “ poor Mary Ann! She can't get over it! she never can!" When lo! to prove each prophet was a ninny To aggravate the case, There were but two grown donkeys in the place ; Of milk, or even chalk and water. So runs the story, And, in vain self-glory, Some Saints would sneer at Gubbins for his blindness But what the better are their pious saws To ailing souls, than dry hee-haws, Without the milk of human kindness? IMMORTAL Imogen, crown'd queen above Whose youth was darkly prison'd and long twined II. I saw a tower builded on a lake, Mock'd by its inverse shadow, dark and deep That seem'd a still intenser night to make, Wherein the quiet waters sunk to sleep, And, whatsoe'er was prisoned in that keep, A monstrous Snake was warden round and round In sable ringlets I beheld him creep Blackest amid black shadows to the ground, Whilst his enormous head the topmost turret crown'd. III. From whence he shot fierce light against the stars, The curtain-lids were pluck'd from his large eyes, So he might never drowse, but watch his secret prize. IV. Prince or princess in dismal durance, pent, Victims of old Enchantment's love or hate, Their lives must all in painful sighs be spent, Watching the lonely waters soon and late, And clouds that pass and leave them to their fate, Or company their grief with heavy tears:Meanwhile that Hope can spy no golden gate For sweet escapement, but in darksome fears They weep and pine away, as if immortal years. V. No gentle bird with gold upon its wing To press in silent grief the darlings of her breast. |