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[Robert HerriCK, a clergyman of the Church of England, who lived during the reign of Charles I. and the Cromwellian period, wrote many graceful poems. In some of his productions, however, the purity of thought that betrays the true poet, is lamentably wanting. Herrick was deprived of his living under Cromwell's rule, but regained it at the Restoration.]

Morning Occupations.

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WISH'D morning 's come;

and now upon the plains, And distant mountains, where

they feed their flocks,

The happy shepherds leave their homely huts,

And with their pipes proclaim

the new-born day.

The lusty swain comes with his well-filled scrip

Of healthful viands, which,

when hunger calls,

With much content and appe

tite he eats,

To follow in the field his daily

toil,

And dress the grateful glebe

that yields him fruits.

The beasts that under the warm hedges slept,

And weather'd out the cold, bleak night, are up;
And, looking towards the neighbouring pastures, raise
Their voice, and bid their fellow-brutes good-morrow.
The cheerful birds, too, on the tops of trees,
Assemble all in choirs; and with their notes
Salute and welcome up the rising sun.

THOMAS OTWAY.

[THOMAS OTWAY, an unfortunate poet, ranks high as a dramatic writer. He particularly excelled in pathetic delineation. He fell into deep poverty, and died at the age of thirty-four, in so wretched a state of destitution, that it was popularly asserted he had been choked by a piece of bread, devoured n the rage of hunger.]

Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog.

OOD people all, of every sort,

Give ear unto my song,

And, if you find it wondrous short,
It cannot hold you long.

In Islington there was a man,
Of whom the world might say,
That still a godly race he ran
Whene'er he went to pray.

A kind and gentle heart he had,
To comfort friends and foes;
The naked every day he clad-
When he put on his clothes.

And in that town a dog was found,
As many dogs there be,

Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,

And curs of low degree.

This dog and man, at first, were friends;

But, when a pique began,

The dog, to gain some private ends,
Went mad, and bit the man.

Around from all the neighbouring streets

The wondering neighbours ran,

And swore the dog had lost his wits

To bite so good a man.

The wound it seem'd both sore and sad,

To every Christian eye;

And, while they swore the dog was mad,

They swore the man would die.

150

EVE TO ADAM.

But soon a wonder came to light,
That showed the rogues they lied;
The man recover'd of the bite-

The dog it was that died.

GOLDSMITH.

Eve to Adam.

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ITH thee conversing I forget all time;
All seasons and their change, all please

alike;

Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising

sweet,

With charm of earliest Birds; pleasant the

Sun

When first on this delightful land he

spreads

His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,

Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth
After soft showers; and sweet the coming on
Of grateful Evening mild, then silent Night
With this her solemn Bird and this fair Moon,
And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train:
But neither breath of Morn when she ascends
With charm of earliest birds, nor rising Sun
On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flower
Glistering with dew, nor fragrance after showers,
Nor grateful Evening mild, nor silent Night
With this her solemn Bird, nor walk by Moon,
Or glittering Star-light, without thee is sweet.

MILTON.

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A Summer Noon.

IS raging noon; and, vertical, the sun

Darts on the head direct his forceful rays.

O'er heaven and earth, far as the ranging eye

Can sweep, a dazzling deluge reigns; and all
From pole to pole is undistinguish'd blaze.
Echo no more returns the cheerful sound

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