But when the town they did descry, They rung their bell aloud, Which their success did signify To the desponding crowd. L. The townsmen bless'd at the event, And at their hearts full glad, Quickly return'd the compliment, By ringing that they had. LI. So when a ship a fort salutes, No sooner have they done, The fort, to obviate all disputes, Returns them gun for gun. LII. Jason, who brought the golden fleece Upon the good ship Argo, Was not more welcom'd home than these, Tho' they did not so far go. LIII. Both bells were in triumphant state, With many a rustic grin, Conducted to the church-yard gate And introduc'd therein. LIV. Where in the shade of two spread yews, Like Baucis and Philemon, Was told at large the joyful news, To many a listning yeoman. LV. There wanted not to mount them high A windlass or a gable, For any lad that stood thereby To run them up was able. LVI. The bells, at last, were safely hung In their respective holes, At weddings, where they both are rung, At deaths, the largest tolls. LVII. At first they various ways did try In vain, to make them speak, At last they did succeed, and by _Un tour de mechanique_. LVIII. The clerk right wisely did foresee. By virtue of his post, That he of their good company Was like to have the most. LIX. To keep society alive, And that they still might please, Wish'd that some way he could contrive, T' enjoy the same with ease. LX. For this he cudgelled his brains, At length this happy thought Occurr'd,--which, with small cost and pains, He to perfection brought. LXI. He found two yard-long sticks would do, Which might from westward come, When each had been well fixed to It's _tintinabulum_. LXII. Two strings, for ropes,[182] a name too great, From these sticks might depend, And by two holes made thro' the slate, Into the church descend. LXIII. That he, when sitting on his breech, (In either hand a string) By giving an alternate twitch, With ease might make them ring. LXIV. A great example here is seen, Of the mechanic-power, Nor has there yet adopted been A better to this hour. LXV. Here critics may cry out with spite, Lord! how these verses jingle! But, otherwise, how could I write On bells that only tingle? FOOTNOTES: