How slowly Time creeps till my Phoebe return ! I could breathe on his wings, and 'twould melt down the lead. Fly swifter, ye minutes, bring hither my dear, And rest so much longer for't when she is here. Ah, Colin! old Time is full of delay, Nor will budge one foot faster for all thou canst say. Will no pitying power that hears me complain, To be cured, thou must, Colin, my passion remove; SALLY IN OUR ALLEY. BY HENRY CAREY.-1700-43. [THIS song may be regarded as one of the prettiest and most natural of English love ditties, combining grace, tenderness, and humour in the simplest manner. Carey had been watching an apprentice and his betrothed in Vauxhall enjoying their cakes and ale, and he came home and wrote the song. His own career was a wild and sad one. He was the author of several burlesques and other dramatic pieces, very popular in their day.] Her father he makes cabbage-nets And through the streets does cry 'em; Her mother she sells laces long To such as please to buy 'em : She is the darling of my heart, When she is by, I leave my work, Of all the days that's in the week And that's the day that comes betwixt For then I'm drest all in my best My master carries me to church, When Christmas comes about again I'll give it to my honey: I would it were ten thousand pound, And she lives in our alley. My master and the neighbours all But when my seven long years are out O then we'll wed, and then we'll bed, A HYMN TO THE SEASONS. BY JAMES THOMSON.-1700-48. 27 66 [JAMES THOMSON was born at Ednam, near Kelso, on the 11th of September, 1700. His father was the minister of the parish. When eighteen years of age, the youth was sent to Edinburgh to be educated for the Church; but, on the death of his father, he resolved to try his fortune in London. In March, 1727, he published his " Winter," which, in successive years, was followed by "Summer," "Spring," and "Autumn." In 1731, he became travelling companion, or tutor, to the son of Sir Charles Talbot; he was thus occupied for three years, in the course of which he visited all the most remarkable places on the Continent. On his return to England he obtained the sinecure situation of Secretary of Briefs in the Court of Chancery, which, however, he lost on the death of his patron, Lord-Chancellor Talbot. His circumstances were afterwards improved by a pension of 100/. which he received from the Prince of Wales through Lord Lyttelton; he was also appointed Surveyor-General of the Leeward Islands, the duties of which he could perform by proxy, and which realized to him 300l. a-year. Being now comparatively rich, he retired to a cottage in the neighbourhood of Richmond. He there wrote several tragedies, and his "Castle of Indolence." He died, after a short illness, on the 27th of August, 1748.] THESE HESE as they change, Almighty Father, these Is full of Thee. Forth in the pleasing Spring Thy beauty walks, Thy tenderness and love. By brooks and groves, in hollow-whispering gales. Mysterious round! What skill, what force divine, Deep felt, in these appear! a simple train, Yet so delightful mix'd, with such kind art, Such beauty and beneficence combin'd; Shade, unperceived, so softening into shade; And all so forming an harmonious whole; That, as they still succeed, they ravish still. But wandering oft, with brute unconscious gaze, Man marks not Thee, marks not the mighty Hand, That, ever-busy, wheels the silent spheres, Works in the secret deep, shoots, steaming, thence The fair profusion that o'erspreads the Spring, Flings from the Sun direct the flaming Day, Feeds every creature, hurls the tempest forth, And, as on earth this grateful change revolves, With transport touches all the springs of life. Nature, attend! join every living soul, Breathe soft, whose Spirit in your freshness breathes. Where, o'er the rock, the scarcely waving pine And ye, whose bolder note is heard afar, Who shake the astonished world, lift high to heaven The impetuous song, and say from whom you rage. His praise, ye brooks, attune, ye trembling rills; And let me catch it as I muse along. Ye headlong torrents, rapid and profound; |