“Brother, what tho’ thy mind is strong, And thou art classed the wise among, Yet in thy earlier Life did’st thou To Love’s imperious Godhead bow, And [worshipp’dst] ardently in Truth The Idol of thy giddy youth.” _G._ “I read Romances, Joseph, then, And wrote with a poetic Pen; I chose in lonely walks to tread, And held my Converse with the Dead. 10 I built me Castles rich and fair, And shut in Wealth and Virtue there, With Bliss that nowhere else will grow, And Fame not realized below, And power that none should dare contest, And Beauty none beside possess’d; With all that Fancy ever gave To Man who would his Miseries brave. My Form was slender; I was tall, And awkward were my Motions all; 20 Nor was a Form indebted less To Fashion, Manner, Grace or Dress. This Form was not for Love designed, But he intirely ruled the Mind; And, as I felt that I should prove A most obedient Slave to Love, So did I judge that he should be A most propitious God to me: To give to me the gentlest Heart That ever felt his keenest Dart, 30 Or that inspired the sweetest Look, Or kindly in the features spoke. “Possessed of Fancies vain and proud I spurned the male and female Crowd, And hoped in some auspicious Hour In some May Morn, in some green Bower, Where I should soothe my dream of Grief, To meet the Lady of the Leaf; Her Love and Favour to implore And be her Knight for evermore. 40 But let me raise my Style, and tell What in my Vision me befell. “One day I mus’d beside a Wood, As I had often done before, And [seemed] so rich and brave and good As never Man was made before. A green Inclosure was beside, And, not far distant on the Hill, A noble Seat, our County’s Pride, Built with abundant Care and Skill; 50 And thence had issued Ladies fair And walked within the Place below, But the green Wood conceal’d the pair From me, who walking felt the Glow Of all the Vanity and pride That push’d the intruding World aside. And now, while thus enwrap’d and fed With thoughts that self indulgence bred, I heard a Shriek so long and loud That prov’d the Shriekers were not proud, 60 But would accept the meanest Aid That ever succour’d folk afraid. “For so it was: that pair divine Were met by some rebellious Kine, Who, in their stubborn Pride and Scorn, With surly Hoof and threat’ning Horn Usurp’d the Path, and, as the Maids Drew near, and [would have] sought its Shades, [Ere] they could reach the guarding Wood, Some surly Beast their Way withstood. 70 And hence the dismal Shriek that drew My Eyes, and asked my Action too; As Justness prompted, forth I ran Resolv’d to show myself a Man; And, plucking forth an oaken Bough, I ran like Guy to fight the Cow, And, like a valiant Champion, fixed Myself the Maids and Cows betwixt. And, tho’ I had not breath to say,