The nymph surveys him, and beholds the grace 120 123 OF ENGLISH POETS. [DONE BY THE AUTHOR IN HIS YOUTH.] I. CHAUCER. WOMEN ben full of ragerie, "Ho!" qnoth another," Cozen John;" 5 10 15 "Lo, here is Coz, and here is Miss." But, as he glozeth with speeches soote, Forth thrust a white neck and red crest. "Then trust on mon whose yerde can talke." 20 26 II. SPENSER. THE ALLEY. I. In ev'ry town where Thamis rolls his tyde, A narrow pass there is, with houses low, Where ever and anon the stream is ey❜d, And many a boat soft sliding to and fro: There oft' are heard the notes of infant woe, 5 The short thick sob, loud scream, and shriller squall: How can ye, mothers, vex your children so? Some play, some eat, some cack against the wall, And as they crouchen low, for bread and butter call. II. And on the broken pavement, here and there, A brandy and tobacco shop is near, And hens, and dogs, and hogs, are feeding by; Mending old nets to catch the scaly fry; 10 15 Now singing shrill, and scolding eft between ; Scolds answer foul-mouth'd scolds; bad neighbourhood I ween. III. The snappish cur (the passengers annoy) 20 Close at my heel with yelping treble flies; IV. Hard by a sty, beneath a roof of thatch, 25 Dwelt Obloquy, who in early days Baskets of fish at Billingsgate did watch, 30 [cease. Cod, whiting, oyster, mackrel, sprat, or place: 35 ters. V. Her dugs were mark'd by ev'ry collier's hand; Her mouth was black as bull-dogs at the stall : |