At length, an assignation She With WILLIAM slily made, It was beneath an old Oak Tree, Whose widely spreading shade The Moon’s soft beams contriv’d to break For many a Village Lover’s sake. But Envy has a Lynx’s eye And GRANNY DOWSON cautious went Before, to spoil their merriment, Thinking no creature nigh. Young WILLIAM came; but at the tree The watchful GRANDAM found! Straight to the Village hasten’d he And summoning his neighbours round, The Hedgerow’s tangled boughs among, Conceal’d the list’ning wond’ring throng. He told them that, for many a night, An OLD GREY OWL was heard; A fierce, ill-omen’d, crabbed Bird— Who fill’d the village with affright. He swore this Bird was large and keen, With claws of fire, and eye-balls green; That nothing rested, where she came; That many pranks the monster play’d, And many a timid trembling Maid She brought to shame For negligence, that was her own; Turning the milk to water, clear, And spilling from the cask, small-beer; Pinching, like fairies, harmless lasses, And shewing Imps, in looking-glasses; Or, with heart-piercing groan, Along the church-yard path, swift gliding, Or, on a broomstick, witchlike, riding. All listen’d trembling; For the Tale Made cheeks of Oker, chalky pale; The young a valiant doubt pretended; The old believ’d, and all attended. Now to DAME DOWSON he repairs And in his arms, enfolds the Granny: Kneels at her feet, and fondly swears He will be true as any! Caresses her with well feign’d bliss And, _fearfully_, implores a Kiss— On the green turf distracted _lying_, He wastes his ardent breath, in sighing. The DAME was silent; for the Lover Would, when she spoke, She fear’d, discover Her envious joke: And she was too much charm’d to be In haste,—to end the Comedy!