Part 38 (1/2)

[042] The oak was dedicated to Jupiter, and the poplar to Hercules.

[043] _Sicker_, surely; Chaucer spells it _siker_.

[044] _Yode_, went.

[045] _Tabreret_, a tabourer.

[046] _Tho_, then

[047] _Attone_, at once--with him.

[048] Cato being present on one occasion at the floral games, the people out of respect to him, forbore to call for the usual exposures; when informed of this he withdrew, that the spectators might not be deprived of their usual entertainment.

[049] What is the reason that an easterly wind is every where unwholesome and disagreeable? I am not sufficiently scientific to answer this question. Pope takes care to notice the fitness of the easterly wind for the _Cave of Spleen_.

No cheerful breeze this sullen region knows, The dreaded east is all the wind that blows.

_Rape of the Lock_.

[050] One sweet scene of early pleasures in my native land I have commemorated in the following sonnet:--

NETLEY ABBEY.

Romantic ruin! who could gaze on thee Untouched by tender thoughts, and glimmering dreams Of long-departed years? Lo! nature seems Accordant with thy silent majesty!

The far blue hills--the smooth reposing sea-- The lonely forest--the meandering streams-- The farewell summer sun, whose mellowed beams Illume thine ivied halls, and tinge each tree, Whose green arms round thee cling--the balmy air-- The stainless vault above, that cloud or storm 'Tis hard to deem will ever more deform-- The season's countless graces,--all appear To thy calm glory ministrant, and form A scene to peace and meditation dear!

D.L.R.

[051] ”I was ever more disposed,” says Hume, ”to see the favourable than the unfavourable side of things; _a turn of mind which it is more happy to possess, than to be born to an estate of ten thousand a year_.”

[052] So called, because the grounds were laid out in a tasteful style, under the direction of Lord Auckland's sister, the Honorable Miss Eden.

[053] _Songs of the East by Mrs. W.S. Carsh.o.r.e. D'Rozario & Co, Calcutta_ 1854.

[054] The lines form a portion of a poem published in _Literary Leaves_ in the year 1840.

[055] Perhaps some formal or fas.h.i.+onable wiseacres may p.r.o.nounce such simple ceremonies _vulgar_. And such is the advance of civilization that even the very chimney-sweepers themselves begin to look upon their old May-day merry-makings as beneath the dignity of their profession.

”Suppose now” said Mr. Jonas Hanway to a sooty little urchin, ”I were to give you a s.h.i.+lling.” ”Lord Almighty bless your honor, and thank you.”

”And what if I were to give you a fine tie-wig to wear on May-day?” ”Ah!

bless your honor, my master wont let me go out on May-day,” ”Why not?”

”Because, he says, _it's low life_.” And yet the merrie makings on May-day which are now deemed _ungenteel_ by chimney-sweepers were once the delight of Princes:--

Forth goth all the court, both most and least, To fetch the flowres fresh, and branch and blome, And namely hawthorn brought both page and grome, And then rejoicing in their great delite Eke ech at others threw the flowres bright, The primrose, violet, and the gold With fresh garlants party blue and white.

_Chaucer_.

[056] The May-pole was usually decorated with the flowers of the hawthorn, a plant as emblematical of the spring as the holly is of Christmas. Goldsmith has made its name familiar even to the people of Bengal, for almost every student in the upper cla.s.ses of the Government Colleges has the following couplet by heart.

The _hawthorn bush_, with seats beneath the shade, For talking age and whispering lovers made.