Long use or time the storm away will turn, This promise I believe; in ev'ry grief GEORGE WITHER, 1558-1667. XXV. Medley. K THE STORY OF AARON THE BEGGAR. FROM THE SWEDISH. ANGAS lieth in Sioni; 'tis a homestead that scarce has an equal; Plenteous in wood and in corn-fields, with rich grassy meadows and moorland. This won my father, in wedding the farmer's fair daughter; I spent the best years of my life, and dwelt like a king amid plenty. And maids in the house, too; and children, the joy of their mother And again the rye failed, for again was the early ear frosted. I had men and maid servants no longer. I could not pay land-dues. So passed the time; and as long as the milch-kine were spared us, Thus came and went Christmas; and still we lived on, although famished. I was met on the threshold by strangers-and thus one accosts me : 66 Friend, either pay that thou owest, or all that thou hast will be seized on." Amazed, I made answer: "Good sir, yet awhile have thou patience, Again they turned into the house, no answer vouchsafing, Then hastily stripped from the walls our poor store of household utensils, Seized all that remained of our clothing, and carried them off to their sledge. Weeping, my wife lay, my excellent wife, on her straw bed, Watching in silence the men, and all the while soothing the baby, Which lay on her bosom new-born, and kept up a wailing of sorrow. I followed them out as they bore thence the last of our chattels, As stern in my mood as the pine when his axe at its roots lays the wood man. They cast up the worth of their plunder, and said that it reached not The half of the sum that they needed. Again spake the bailiff : "Friend," said he, "this doth not suffice, but thou hast much kine in the cow-shed." Thus saying, with no more ado, they went on to the straw-yard, They loosened and drove them all forth, one after another; Still forcing them on by compulsion, unwilling to leave their old homestead. In this way six cows were secured; the seventh, a starveling, Dead rather than living, they left me. Thus all that I had was distrained on. I spake not; in dreary despondence re-crossing my threshold, Thus spake she; a darkness came over my eyesight, and sorrowing |