Verse sweetens toil, however rude the sound; She feels no biting pang the while she sings, Nor as she turns the giddy wheel around, Revolves the sad vicissitudes of things. GIFFORD Contemplation. SAMUEL JOHNSON altered the second line to: "All at her work the village maiden sings"; and in the third line substituted "while" for "as." For "sad vicissitude of things" see STERNE under CHANGE, HAWTHORNE under APPLE, BACON under RELIGION.

(See also OVERBURY, QUINTILIAN, SIDNEY)

10

He play'd an ancient ditty long since mute,
In Provence call'd, "La belle dame sans merci."
KEATS--The Eve of St. Agnes. St. 33. "La
Belle Dame, sans Merci" is a poem by
ALAIN CHARTIER. Attributed to JEAN
MAROT by M. PAULIN-Manuscript Fran-

I think, whatever mortals crave,
With impotent endeavor,

A wreath a rank-a throne-a grave
The world goes round forever;

I think that life is not too long,
And therefore I determine,
That many people read a song,
Who will not read a sermon.

W. M. PRAED-Chant of the Brazen Head.

19

Odds life! must one swear to the truth of a song? PRIOR-A Better Answer.

20

Etiam singulorum fatigatio quamlibet se rudi modulatione solatur.

Men, even when alone, lighten their labors by song, however rude it may be. QUINTILIAN-De Institutione Oratoria. I. 81. (See also GIFFORD)