And fitly to complete the chain

I'd weave ourselves the rest among→
Making the rosy link a kiss.

That join'd us to those pairs of bliss.

I'd sing to thee of many things

That lend a spell to courtship's hour, When fancy plumes her rainbow wings, And flies to rapture's sunny bower→

Of many things, I'd sing to thee,

That best befit soft minstrelsie.

I'd sing to thee of every charm

That Hymen spreads his lure beneath With holy transport those to warm Who wear his bloomy nuptial-wreath; And THEN, the bridal bliss to prove, I'd tremblingly implore thee love!

THE DEVIL'S DYKE.

"I argue thus, the world agrees

That he writes well, who writes with ease,
Then he, by sequel logical,

Writes best who never thinks at all."

THE DEVIL'S DYKE.

CANTO I.

"That man's an ass who strives by force or skill,

To stem the torrent of a woman's will;

For if she will-she will-you may depend on't,

And if she won't-she won't-and there's an end on't.”

OI tell a tale of wonder,

And I tell a tale of awe,

And I tell a tale shall load the gale

From "Dan to Beersheba ;"

For by fate I am elected

To disclose a miracle,

Ah well-a-day! no truer lay

To minstrel ever fell.

*

I ween, in merry England

Right many folk there be,

King's lieges true, who've been to view

Brighthelmstone on the sea.

And few, I wot, have seen it,

Its chain-pier, and such like,

But in a fly have been to eye

The neighbouring " Devil's Dyke!"

This "Devil's Dyke," beshrew it,

Is the carol of my muse,

And I needn't tell, she couldn't well
A deeper subject choose:
Gramercy! how I tremble,

As she flaps her raven wing,
Oddzooks I see, she's off by G-
Attend-and I will sing.

A Knight was he, and Deputy

Of Tower Hill, and Ditch;

He was a Hamlet's † "Worship,"

And, in short, no other than

A

nummary superlative.

+Tower Hamlets.