He never set his benefice to hire,13 Though holy in himself, and virtuous, He waited not on pomp or reverence, 13 hire, he did not leave his parish duties to be performed by a curate, that he might go to London to seek a chantry at St. Paul's. 14 cogging, driving or pressing, from L. cogo, to force. 15 An endowment to pay a priest for singing or chanting masses for the souls of some persons dead. 16 brotherhood. To be enrolled in one of the orders of friars, or 17 no mercenary, not a hireling AN APRIL DAY.1 ALL day the low-hung clouds have dropt There has not been a sound to-day Of waving bough, or warbling bird, I could have half believed I heard I stood to hear-I love it well, The rain's continuous soundSmall drops, but thick and fast they fell, Down straight into the ground. For leafy thickness is not yet Earth's naked breast to screen, Though every dripping branch is set With shoots of tender green. This piece is finely modernized. Sure, since I looked at early morn Those honeysuckle buds Have swelled to double growth; that thorn Hath put forth larger studs." That lilac's cleaving cones have burst, The very earth, the steamy air, Down, down they come-those fruitful stores! Those earth-rejoicing drops! A momentary deluge pours, Then thins, decreases, stops. And ere the dimples on the stream But, yet, behold-abrupt and loud, 2 A fine English word for swelling buds. - 3 AUTHOR UNKNOWN.-Date, Henry VIII.'s reign-1509-1547. HUNTING SONG. THE hunt is up, the hunt is up, And it is well nigh day; And Harry our king is gone hunting, The east is bright with morning light, And the merry horn wakes up the morn To leave his idle bed. Behold, the skies, with golden dyes, The grass is green, and so are the treen2 The horses snort to be at sport, The dogs are running free, The woods rejoice at the merry noise, Of Hey tantara tee ree! The sun is glad to see us clad All in our lusty green, 3 And smiles in the sky, as he riseth high, I to bay, to turn against the dogs, as they bay or bark at it. 2 treen, old form for trees. It is, really, tree-en, like ox-en, childr-en, hos-en, brethr-en, cow-en, contracted into kine. 3 green, the hunting dress. "Lusty" means healthful, joyful. Awake all men, I say again, Be merry as you may; For Harry our king is gone hunting, EDMUND SPENSER.-Born, 1553; Died, 1599. This great poet is best known by his "Fairie Queene," an allegorical poem, of which only six books out of twelve remain. Sir Philip Sidney got him appointed Irish Secretary, and he obtained a large grant of land in Ireland, but a rebellion breaking out, he had to flee, and died in London, apparently in distress. WISDOM, TRUE RICHES. IN vain do men 1 The heavens of their fortune's fault accuse,1 Sith they know best what is the best for them; For they to each such fortune do diffuse1 As they do know each can most aptly use. For not that which men covet most is best, Nor that thing worst which men do most refuse; But fittest is, that all contented rest With that they hold: each hath his fortune in his breast. 1 accuse, blame Providence for their bad fortune. 2 sith, since. 3 they, the heavens, that is, God's providence. 4 diffuse, pour forth, or scatter. |