IV.

But fee, triumphant o'er the Southern wave
The Norman fweeps!-Though first he gave
New grace to Britain's naked plain,
With arts and manners in his train;

And many a fane he rear'd, that still fublime
In maffy pomp, has mock'd the ftealth of time;
And caftle fair, that ftript of half its towers,
From fome broad fteep in fhatter'd glory lowrs;

Yet brought he flavery from a fofter clime:
Each eve, the curfew's note fevere,
(That now but foothes the mufing poet's ear)
At the new tyrant's ftern command,

Warn'd to unwelcome reft a wakeful land;
While proud oppreffion o'er the ravifh'd field

High rais'd his armed hand, and fhook the feudal fhield.

V.

Stoop'd then that freedom to defpotic sway,

For which, in many a fierce affray,

The Briton's bold, the Saxon's bled,

His Danish javelins Lefwin led,

O'er Hafting's plain, to ftay the Norman yoke?
She felt, but to refit, the fudden stroke:
The Tyrant-Baron grafp'd the Patriot's steel,
And taught the Tyrant-King its force to feel;
And quick revenge the regal bondage broke,

And

And ftill, unchang'd and uncontroul'd,

Its refcued rights fhall the dread empire hold;
For lo, revering Britain's caufe,

A King new luftre lends to native laws!
The facred Sovereign of this feftal day

On Albion's old renown reflects a kindred ray!

A DARING ROBBERY.

HREE men, appearing as graziers, called at

THR

a refpectable farmer's, and enquired if he was at home. The girl told them her mafler was only in the field, and that he would call him.When the farmer came, he enquired their businefs. One of them immediately anfwered, he was the perfon that wanted him, and that he would wifh to afk him a queftion in private. The farmer defired him to walk into the parlour; and the other two feated themfelves in the kitchen. As foon as the door was fhut, the fharper told him, his question was a very fimple one, and he hoped he would not take a long time to answer it; it was either to choose to give him fifty pounds, or to have a brace of bullets in his body, he was determined to be fatisfied, and if he did not comply, he fhould first have the bullets, and his men were ready to plunder the houfe. The farmer told him

he

he had no fuch money in the house, but would give him all he had, which was twenty pounds; but this would not fatisfy the villain, who told him he faw him receive 110l. at Cliffe fair, on Saturday, and intended to have paid him a vifit that night, but was prevented. The farmer was at length obliged to comply; and though the villain faw more than what he demanded in the desk, when the farmer was giving him the money, he did not require it; but, when he received his booty, he faid, I am much obliged to you.-I fhall not trouble you again these three years; but if fortunate till that time, may again pay you a visit.-He opened the door, and told one of the men to fetch their horfes; and when mounted, rode off full speed.

I

THE HISTORY

OF A

YOUNG WOMAN

That came to LONDON for a SERVICE.

AM the daughter of a country gentleman, whose family is numerous, and whofe eftate, not at firft fullicient to fupply us with affluence, has been lately fo much impaired by an unfuccefsful

law

law-fuit, that all the younger children are obliged to try fuch means as their education affords them, for procuring the neceffaries of life. Diftrefs and curiofity concurred to bring me to London, where I was received by a relation with the coldness which misfortune generally finds. A week, a long week, I lived with my coufin, before the most vigilant enquiry could procure us the leaft hopes of a place, in which time I was much better qualified to bear all the vexations of fervitude. The first two days fhe was content to pity me; and only wifhed I had not been quite fo well bred; but people must comply with their circumstances.This lenity, however, was foon at an end; and, for the remaining part of the week, I heard every hour of the pride of my family, the obftinacy of my father, and of people better born than myself that were common fervants.

At last, on Saturday noon, fhe told me, with very vifible fatisfaction, that Mrs. Bombazine, the great filk mercer's lady, wanted a maid, and a fine place it would be; for there would be nothing to do but to clean my miftrefs's room, get up her linen, drefs the young ladies, wait at tea in the morning, take care of a little Mifs just come from nurse, and then fit down to my needle. But Madam was a woman of great fpirit, and would not

be

be contradicted, and therefore I fhould take care, for good places were not eafily to be got.

With thefe cautions I waited on Madame Bombazine, of whom the firft fight gave me no ravishing ideas. She was two yards round the waist, her voice was at once loud and fqueaking, and her face brought to my mind the picture of the full moon. Are you the young woman, fays fhe, that are come to offer yourself? It is ftrange when people of fubftance want a fervant, how foon it is the town-talk. But they know they fhall have a belly-full that live with me. Not like people at the other end of the town, we dine at one o'clock. But I never take any body without a character; what friends do you come of? I then told her my father was a gentleman, and that we had been unfortunate.-A great misfortune, indeed, to come to me, and have three meals a day!—So your father was a gentleman, and you are a gentlewoman I fuppofe-fuch gentlewomen! Madam, I did not mean to claim any exemptions, I only anfwered your enquiry.-Such gentlewomen! people fhould fet their children to good trades, and keep them off the parish. Pray go to the other end of the town, there are gentlewomen, if they would pay their debts: I am fure we have loft enough by gentlewomen. Upon this, her broad

face