To T. STOTHARD, ESQ., ON HIS ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE

TO LOUISA M- WHOM I USED TO CALL "MONKEY" 95

TRANSLATIONS (FROM THE LATIN OF VINCENT Bourne).

II. TO DAVID COOK, OF THE PARISH OF ST. MAR-

GARET'S, WESTMINSTER, WATCHMAN

III. ON A SEPULCHRAL STATUE OF AN INFANT

97

• 100

THE

POETICAL WORKS

OF

CHARLES LAMB.

THE THREE FRIENDS.

THREE young maids in friendship met,
Mary, Martha, Margaret.

Margaret was tall and fair,

Martha shorter by a hair;

If the first excelled in feature,

The other's grace and ease were greater;

Mary, though to rival loth,

In their best gifts equalled both.
They a due proportion kept;

Martha mourned if Margaret wept;

Margaret joyed when any good

She of Martha understood;

(9)

And in sympathy for either
Mary was outdone by neither.
Thus far, for a happy space,
All three ran an equal race,
A most constant friendship proving,
Equally beloved and loving;
All their wishes, joys, the same;
Sisters only not in name.

Fortune upon each one smiled,

As upon a favourite child;
Well to do and well to see
Were the parents of all three;
Till on Martha's father crosses
Brought a flood of worldly losses,
And his fortunes rich and great.
Changed at once to low estate;
Under which o'erwhelming blow
Martha's mother was laid low;
She a hapless orphan left,
Of maternal care bereft,
Trouble following trouble fast,
Lay in a sick bed at last.

In the depth of her affliction Martha now received conviction, That a true and faithful friend Can the surest comfort lend.