Remembering thee, O green and silent dell!

And grateful, that by nature's quietness

And solitary musings, all my heart

Is soften'd, and made worthy to indulge

Love, and the thoughts that yearn for human kind.

Nether Stowey,

April 28th, 1798.

RECANTATION.

Illustrated in the Story of the Mad Ox.

I.

AN Ox, long fed with musty hay,
And work'd with yoke and chain,
Was turn'd out on an April day,
When fields are in their best array,
And growing grasses sparkle gay

At once with Sun and rain.

II.

The grass was fine, the Sun was bright: With truth I may aver it;

The Ox was glad, as well he might, Thought a green meadow no bad sight, And frisked, to shew his huge delight, Much like a beast of spirit.

III.

Stop, Neighbours! stop! why these alarms?

The Ox is only glad

But still they pour from cots and farms-
Halloo! the parish is up in arms,

(A hoaxing-hunt has always charms)
Halloo! the Ox is mad.

IV.

The frighted beast scamper'd about;
Plunge! through the hedge he drove―

The mob pursue with hideous rout,

A bull-dog fastens on his snout;

He gores the dog, his tongue hangs out;

He's mad! he's mad, by Jove!

V.

"Stop, Neighbours, stop!" aloud did call

But all, at once, on him they fall,

And women squeak and children squall,

"What! would you have him toss us all?

VI.

Oh! hapless sage, his ears they stun,
And curse him o'er and o'er-

"You bloody-minded dog! cries one,
"To slit your windpipe were good fun,-
"'Od blast you for an *impious son

"Of a presbyterian w—re.”

VII.

"You'd have him gore the parish-priest,

"And run against the altar

"You fiend!" The sage his warnings ceas'd,

And north and south, and west and east,

Halloo! they follow the poor beast,

Mat, Dick, Tom, Bob and Walter.

VIII.

Old Lewis, ('twas his evil day)

Stood trembling in his shoes;
The Ox was his-what could he

say

His legs were stiffened with dismay,

The Ox ran o'er him mid the fray,

And gave him his death's bruise.

?

* One of the many fine words which the most uneducated had about this time a constant opportunity of acquiring, from the sermons in the pulpit and the proclamations in the

-corners.

IX.

The frighted beast ran on--but here,

(No tale, tho' in print, more true is)
My Musę stops short in mid career-
Nay, gentle reader! do not sneer !
I cannot choose but drop a tear,

A tear for good old Lewis!

X.

The frighted beast ran through the town;

All follow'd, boy and dad,

Bull-dog, Parson, Shopman, Clown:

The Publicans rush'd from the Crown,

"Halloo! hamstring him! cut him down!"

THEY DROVE the poor Ox mad.

XI.

Should you a Rat to madness teize,

Why e'en a Rat may plague you :

There's no Philosopher but sees

That Rage and Fear are one disease

Though that may burn and this may freeze,

They're both alike the Ague.