In part conceal-yon prowler on his way.
Lo! he has something seen; he runs apace,
As if he feared companion in the chase;
He sees his prize, and now he turns again,
Slowly and sorrowing-Was your search in
vain?''

Gruffly he answers,

"Tis a sorry sight!

A seaman's body; there'll be more to-night!" Hark to those sounds! they're from distress at sea; 241

How quick they come! What terrors may there be!

Yes, 'tis a driven vessel I discern

To pass off one dread portion of the night;
And show and song and luxury combined
Lift off from man this burthen of mankind. 280
Others adventurous walk abroad and meet
Returning parties pacing through the street;
When various voices, in the dying day,
Hum in our walks, and greet us in our way;
When tavern-lights flit on from room to room,
And guide the tippling sailor, staggering home:
There as we pass, the jingling bells betray
How business rises with the closing day:
Now walking silent, by the river's side,
The ear perceives the rippling of the tide; 290

Lights, signs of terror, gleaming from the Or measured cadence of the lads who tow stern;

Others behold them too, and from the town
In various parties seamen hurry down;
Their wives pursue, and damsels urged by
dread,

Lest men so dear be into danger led;
Their head the gown has hooded, and their call
In this sad night is piercing like the squall;
They feel their kinds of power, and when they
meet,
251

Chide, fondle, weep, dare, threaten, or entreat.
See one poor girl, all terror and alarm,
Has fondly seized upon her lover's arm;
"Thou shalt not venture;" and he answers,
"No!

I will not❞—still she cries, "Thou shalt not
go.",

No need of this; not here the stoutest boat Can through such breakers, o'er such billows float;

Yet may they view these lights upon the beach, Which yield them hope, whom help can never reach,

260

From parted clouds the moon her radiance
throws

On the wild waves, and all the danger shows;
But shows them beaming in her shining vest,
Terrific splendour! gloom in glory dressed!
This for a moment, and then clouds again
Hide every beam, and fear and darkness reign.
But hear we now those sounds? Do lights
appear?

I see them not! the storm alone I hear:
And lo! the sailors homeward take their way;
Man must endure-let us submit and pray. 270
Such are our winter-views; but night comes

on

Now business sleeps, and daily cares are gone;
Now parties form, and some their friends assist
To waste the idle hours at sober whist;
The tavern's pleasure or the concert's charm
Unnumbered moments of their sting disarm;
Play-bills and open doors a crowd invite,

Some entered hoy, to fix her in her row;
Or hollow sound, which from the parish-bell
To some departed spirit bids farewell!

Thus shall you something of our BOROUGH
know.

Far as a verse, with Fancy's aid, can show;
Of sea or river, of a quay or street,
The best description must be incomplete;
But when a happier theme succeeds, and when
Men are our subjects and the deeds of men; 300
Then may we find the Muse in happier style,
And we may sometimes sigh and sometimes
smile.

WILLIAM BLAKE (1757-1827)

SONG

1

How sweet I roamed from field to field,
And tasted all the summer's pride,
Till I the Prince of Love beheld,
Who in the sunny beams did glide.

2

He showed me lilies for my hair,
And blushing roses for my brow;
And led me through his gardens fair
Where all his golden pleasures grow.

3

With sweet May-dews my wings were wet,
And Phoebus fired my vocal rage;
He caught me in his silken net,
And shut me in his golden cage.

4

He loves to sit and hear me sing,

Then, laughing, sports and plays with me;.
Then stretches out my golden wing,
And mocks my loss of liberty.

The waes o' my heart fa' in showers frae my I wish that I were dead, but I'm no like to e'e,

While my gudeman lies sound by me.

2

dee;

And why was I born to say, Wae's me!

9

Young Jamie lo 'ed me weel, and sought me for I gang like a ghaist, and I carena to spin; his bride;

But saving a croun he had naething else beside; To make the croun a pund, young Jamie gaed to sea;

And the croun and the pund were baith for me.

3

He hadna been awa' a week but only twa, When my father brak his arm, and the cow was stown29 awa';

My mother she fell sick, and my Jamie at the

sea

And auld Robin Gray came a-courtin' me.

4

My father couldna work, and my mother couldna spin;

I toiled day and night, but their bread 1 couldna win;

Auld Rob maintained them baith, and wi' tears in his e'e

Said, "Jennie, for their sakes, O, marry me!"

5

My heart it said nay; I looked for Jamie back;
But the wind it blew high, and the ship it was
a wrack;

His ship it was a wrack-why didna Jamie dee?
Or why do I live to cry, Wae's me!

6

My father urged me sair: my mother didna speak;

But she looked in my face till my heart was like to break:

They gi'ed him my hand, tho' my heart was in the sea;

Sae auld Robin Gray he was gudeman to me.

7

I hadna been a wife a week but only four, When mournfu' as I sat on the stane at the door,

I saw my Jamie's wraith,-for I couldna think it he,

Till he said, "I'm come hame to marry thee."

8

O sair, sair did we greet,30 and mickle31 say of a';

We took but ae kiss, and I bade him gang

awa';

29 stolen

30 cry

I daurna think on Jamie, for that wad be a sin; | But I'll do my best a gude wife aye to be, For auld Robin Gray he is kind unto me.

ISOBEL PAGAN (d. 1821)

CA' THE YOWES

1

As I gaed down the water side,
There I met my shepherd lad,
He rowed me sweetly in his plaid,
And he ca'd me his dearie.

Ca' the yowes2 to the knowes,3
Ca' them where the heather grows,
Ca' them where the burnie rows,1
My bonnie dearic.

2

"Will ye gang down the water side,
And see the waves sae sweetly glide
Beneath the hazels spreading wide?

The moon it shines fu' clearly."
Ca' the yowes, etc.

3

"I was bred up at nae sic school,
My shepherd lad, to play the fool;
And a' the day to sit in dool,5

And naebody to see me."

4

"Ye shall get gowns and ribbons meet,
Cauf-leather shoon upon your feet,
And in my arms ye'ses lie and sleep,
And ye shall be my dearie."

5

"If ye'll but stand to what ye've said,
I'se gang wi' you, my shepherd lad;
And ye may row me in your plaid,
And I shall be your dearie.''

6

"While waters wimple to the sea,
While day blinks in the lift? sae hie,
Till clay-cauld death shall blin' my e'e,
Ye aye shall be my dearie."