SELECTIONS IN ENGLISH POETRY

Near yonder thorn, that lifts its head on high,

Where once the sign-post caught the passing eye, 220

Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts inspired,.,

Where grey-beard mirth and smiling toil retired,

Where village statesmen talked with looks profound,

And news much older than their ale went round.

Imagination fondly stoops to trace ' 225

The parlour splendours of that festive place;

The white-washed wall, the nicely sanded floor,

The varnished clock that clicked behind the door;

The chest contrived a double debt to pay, .

A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day; 230

The pictures placed for ornament and use,

The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose;

The hearth, except when winter chilled the day,

With aspen boughs, and flowers, and fennel gay;

While broken tea-cups, wisely kept for show, 235

Ranged o'er the chimney, glistened in a row.

•- Vain, transitory splendours! Could not all
Reprieve the tottering mansion from its fall 1
Obscure it sinks, nor shall it more impart
An hour's importance to the poor man's heart; 240
Thither no more the peasant shall repair
To sweet oblivion of his daily care;
No more the farmer's news, the barber's tale,
No more the wood-man's ballad shall prevail;
No more the smith his dusky brow shall clear, 245
Relax his pond'rous strength, and lean to hear;
The host himself no longer shall be found
Careful to see the mantling bliss go round;
Nor the coy maid, half willing to be pressed,
Shall kiss the cup to pass it to the rest. 250
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