Then came the Autumn, all in yellow clad, To reap the ripen'd fruits the which the earth had yold.' Lastly, came Winter, clothed all in frize, Chattering his teeth for cold that did him chill; Whilst on his hoary beard his breath did freeze, And the dull drops, that from his purpled bill As from a limbeck* did adown distil: In his right hand a tipped staff he held, With which his feeble steps he stayed still; For he was faint with cold, and weak with eld," That scarce his loosed limbs he able was to weld." And after these there came the Day and Night, Riding together both with equal pace; The one on a palfrey black, the other white; But Night had covered her uncomely face With a black veil, and held in hand a mace, On top whereof the moon and stars were pight," And Sleep and Darkness round about did trace: But Day did bear upon his sceptre's height The goodly Sun encompass'd all with beamës bright. to-fore, before this time. i yold, yielded. eld, old age. henrolled, rolled in, surrounded by. klimbeck, an alembic or still. mweld, to wield. "pight, placed, pitched. Then came the Hours, fair daughters of high Jove And timely Night; the which were all endued With wondrous beauty fit to kindle love; But they were virgins all, and love eschew'd' That might forslack the charge to them foreshowed By mighty Jove, who did them porters make Of heaven's gate (whence all the gods issued) Which they did daily watch, and nightly wake By even turns, nor ever did their charge forsake. And after all came Life; and, lastly, Death: Death with most grim and grisly visage seen, Yet is he nought but parting of the breath; Ne' aught to see, but like a shade to ween,' Unbodied, unsoul'd, unheard, unseen; But Life was like a fair young lusty boy, Such as they feign Dan" Cupid to have been, Full of delightful health and lively joy, Deck'd all with flowers and wings of gold fit to employ. SPENSER. ⚫ timely, coming in due season. Peschewed, avoided. forslack, cause to be neglected. foreshowed, previously shown and intrusted. ne, nor. to ween, to think of. "Dan, Master. Sir, like the Spanish Don. THE PASSIONS, FEELINGS, AFFECTIONS, &c. THE PASSIONS. WHEN MUSIC, heavenly Maid, was young, With woeful measures wan DESPAIR, But thou, O HOPE! with eyes so fair, And longer had she sung; but, with a frown, He threw his blood-stain'd sword in thunder down, The war-denouncing trumpet took, And blew a blast so loud and dread, Were ne'er prophetic sounds so full of woe; And ever and anon he beat The double drum with furious heat; And tho' sometimes, each dreary pause between, Dejected PITY at his side Her soul-subduing voice applied, Yet still he kept his wild unalter'd mien, While each strain'd ball of sight seem'd bursting from his head. Thy numbers, JEALOUSY, to nought were fix'd; Sad proof of thy distressful state ! Of diff'ring themes the veering song was mix'd, And now it courted LovE, now raving call'd on HATE. With eyes upraised, as one inspired, Pale MELANCHOLY sat retired, And from her wild sequester'd seat, In notes by distance made more sweet, Pour'd thro' the mellow horn her pensive soul. And clashing soft from rocks around Bubbling runnels join'd the sound; Thro' glades and glooms the mingled measure stole, Or o'er some haunted streams, with fond delay, Love of peace and lonely musing, In hollow murmurs died away. But, O! how alter'd was its sprightly tone, When CHEERFULNESS, a nymph of healthiest Her bow across her shoulder hung, [hue, Her buskins gemm'd with morning dew, Blew an inspiring air, that dale and thicket rung, The Hunter's call, to Fawn and Dryad known; The oak-crown'd sisters and their chaste-eyed Satyrs and sylvan boys, were seen Peeping from forth their alleys green; Brown Exercise rejoiced to hear, [queen, And Sport leap'd up, and seiz'd his beechen spear. Last came Joy's ecstatic trial: He, with viny crown advancing, First to the lively pipe his hand address'd; Whose sweet entrancing voice he loved the best, |