CUDDY.

Across the fallen oak the plank I laid,
And myself pois'd against the tott'ring maid:
High leap'd the plank, adown Buxoma fell;
I spy'd― but faithful sweet-hearts never tell.

LOBBIN CLOUT.

This riddle, Cuddy, if thou canst, explain;
This wily riddle puzzles ev'ry swain :

What flow'r is that which bears the virgin's name,
The richest metal joined with the same (1)?

CUDDY.

Answer, thou carle, adjuge this riddle right,
I'll frankly own thee for a cunning wight:
What flow'r is that which royal honour craves?
Adjoin the virgin, and 'tis strown on graves (2).

CLODDIPOLE.

Forbear, contending louts, give

give o'er

your strains; An oaken staff each merits for his pains.

But see, the sun-beams bright to labour warn, And gild the thatch of goodman Hodge's barn.

(1) Marygold.

(2) Rosemary.

GUILLOT.

Aux deux bouts d'une planche, un matin, ma bergère Et moi, nous balancions; Jeannette plus légère Tombe; l'amour, je crois, l'amour le fit exprès: Je vis.... chut, taisons-nous; les amans sont discrets.

COLAS.

Devine cette énigme et ma main te couronne :
Quel est, parmi les fruits que fait naître l'automne,
Celui qui réunit, bizarre en son destin,

L'épouse d'un monarque au nom d'un petit saint (1)?

GUILLOT.

Devine aussi la mienne et tu seras mon maître:
Quelle est, parmi les fleurs que le zéphir fait naître,
La fleur aux doux parfums dont le nom réunit
Un animal folâtre et ce qui le nourrit (2)?

GROSJEAN.

Cessez, jeunes bergers, cessez vos chansonnettes; Heureuses les Fanchons, heureuses les Jeannettes Qu'on chante en vers si doux! cessez, et de ma main Prenez l'un une flûte et l'autre un tambourin.

(1) Reine-Glaude.

(2) Chevre-feuille.

Your herds for want of water stand adry; They're weary of your songs-and so am I.

THE POET AND THE ROSE.

A FABLE.

I Hate the man who builds his name
On ruins of another's fame.

Thus prudes, by characters o'erthrown,
Imagine that they raise their own;
Thus scribblers, covetous of praise
Think slander can transplant the bays.
Beauties and bards have equal pride:
With both all rivals are decry'd.

Who praises Lesbia's eyes

and feature

Must call her sister aukward creature;
For the kind flattery's sure to charm
When we some other nymph disarm.

As in the cool of early day,

A poet sought the sweets of May,
The garden's fragrant breath ascends
And ev'ry stalk with odour bends.

Le soleil dans les champs rappelle la bergère,

Ses

rayons ont jauni le toit du presbytère;

Vos moutons altérés, vos brebis en émoi

Sont de vos chants d'amour fatigués... comme moi.

Jamais ne connurent l'envie; «

Sans offenser ma Virginie,

Je puis louer sa jeune sœur;
Mais cet aimable caractère

*

Fut de tout tems, comme aujourd'hui,
Un vrai phénix; chacun veut plaire
Et briller aux dépens d'autrui.
Près d'un auteur, près d'une belle,
Il faut, lorsque l'on fait sa cour,
Critiquer la beauté du jour,

Et siffler la pièce nouvelle.

Certain rimeur, un jour, errant dans un jardin,

A rose he pluck'd; he gaz'd, admir'd,
Thus singing as the muse inspir'd::

«Go, Rose, my Chloe's bosom grace;

» How

happy should I prove :

» Might I supply that envy'd place » With never fading love!

» There, phoenix like, beneath her

eye,

>>> Involv'd in fragrance, burn and die!

» Know, hapless flow'r, that thou shalt find » More fragrant roses there.

>> I see thy with'ring head reclin'd envy, and despair !

>> With

» One common fate we both must prove » You die with envy, I with love.,»

Spare your comparisons, reply'd
An angry Rose, who grew beside.

Of all mankind you should not flout us:
What can a Poet do without us?
In ev'ry love-song Roses bloom

We lend you colour and perfume. elke
Does it to Chloe's charms conduce
To found her praise on our abuse?
Must we, to flatter her, be made.