Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

Begaired (0) is the sapphire pend (p)
With spraings (9) of scarlet hue;
And preciously from end to end,
Damasked white and blue.

The ample heaven, of fabric sure,
In clearness does surpass

The crystal and the silver, pure
As clearest polish'd glass.

The time so tranquil is and clear,
That no where shall ye find,
Save on a high and barren hill,
The air of passing wind.

All trees and simples, great and small,

That balmy leaf do bear,

Than they were painted on a wall,

No more they move or steir. (r)

The rivers fresh, the callour (s) streams,

O'er rocks can swiftly rin, (t)

The water clear like crystal beams,

And makes a pleasant din.

Calm is the deep and purple sea,

Yea, smoother than the sand;

The waves, that woltering (u) wont to be,
Are stable like the land.

(0) Drest out. (r) Stir.

(p) Arch.

(s) Cool.

(t) Run.

(q) Streaks.
(u) Tumbling.

So silent is the cessile air,

That every cry and call,

The hills and dales, and forests fair,
Again repeats (x) them all.

The clogged busy humming bees,
That never think to drown, (y)
On flowers and flourishes of trees;">
Collect their liquor brown.

The sun most like a speedy post
With ardent course ascends;

The beauty of our heavenly host
Up to our zenith tends.

The breathless flocks draw to the shade
And freschure (z) of their fauld;

The startling nolt, (a) as they were mad,
Run to the rivers cald.

The herds beneath some leafy trees,

Amidst the flow'rs they lie;

The stable ships upon the seas

Tend up their sails to dry.

The rayons dure (b) descending down,
All kindle in a gleid ; (c)

In city, nor in burrough town,
May nane set forth their head.

(x) By the older writers little attention is paid in giving

plural nouns a plural verb.
(y) To drone, or to be idle.

(b) Hard or keen rays.

(x) Freshness._(a) Oxen. (c) Fire.

The labourers that timely rose,

All weary,

faint, and weak,

For heat down to their houses goes,
Noon-meite and sleep to take.

The callour (d) wine in cave is sought,
Men's brothing (e) breasts to cool;
The water cold and clear is brought,
And sallads steep'd in ule. (ƒ)

With gilded eyes and open wings,

The cock his courage shows;

With claps of joy his breast he dings, (g)

And twenty times he crows.

The dove with whistling wings so blue,

The winds can fast collect,
Her purple pens turn many a hue
Against the sun direct.

Now noon is gone-gone is midday,
The heat does slake at last,

The sun descends down west away,
For three o'clock is past.

*

Great is the calm, for every where

The wind is setting down,

The reek (h) throws up right in the air,
From every tower and town.

(d) Cool.

(e) Burning.

(g) Beats.

(f) Oil,

(h) Smoke.

The mavis and the philomeen, (i)
The sterling whistles loud,

The cushats (k) on the branches green,
Full quietly they crood. (1)

The glomin (m) comes, the day is spent,
The sun goes out of sight,

And painted is the occident

With purple sanguine bright.

*

What pleasure then to walk and see,

Endlang (n) a river clear,

The perfect form of every tree

Within the deep appear.

The salmon out of cruives (0) and creels, (p)

Uphailed into scouts ; (g)

The bells and circles on the weills, (r)

Through leaping of the trouts.

O sure it were a seemly thing,

While all is still and calm,

The praise of God to play and sing

With trumpet and with shalm.

Through all the land great is the gild (s)

Of rustic folks that cry;

(i) Thrush and nightingale.

(k) Wood-pigeons.

(n) Along.

(r) Wells.

(4) A very expressive word for the note of the cushat, or wood-pigeon. (m) Evening. (0) Places for confining fish, generally placed in the bed of a river. (p) Baskets. (q) Small boats or yawls. (s) Throng.

Of bleating sheep, fra they be fill'd,
Of calves and rowting kye.

All labourers draw hame at even,
And can to others say,

Thanks to the gracious God of Heaven,
Quhilk (t) sent this summer day.

SHAKSPEARE.

BORN 1564-DIED 1616.

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE, the bard of England, was born at Stratford on Avon on St George's day (23d April), 1564, and died on his birth-day in 1616, at the same place.

DIRGE.

(In "Cymbeline.")

FEAR no more the heat o' the sun,
Nor the furious winter's rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages :
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers come to dust.

Fear no more the frown o' the great,
Thou art past the tyrant's stroke;

(t) Who.

« AnteriorContinuar »