But aye the ruthless driver goads them on, And aye of barking dogs the bitter throng Makes them renew their unmelodious moan; Ne ever find they rest from their unresting fone.

NOTE.

Page 264. The stanza [in the margin] is said by Sir H. Nicolas to have appeared in an edition of the Castle of Indolence published in 1746, and is supposed to describe Lady Lyttelton.

Now, the earliest edition of this poem that I can find is the 4to edition of 1748, and this is proved to be the first by an 8vo edition having been published during the same year with second edition in the title-page. This stanza is not in either of these editions, nor in Lord Lyttelton's edition of 1750, nor in Murdoch's edition of 1762. It may have been handed about in MS. as early as 1746, but through Lord Lyttelton's or some other influence never published either by the Author or his friends. [P. C.]

Page 288. The two following stanzas, which, in the edition of 1748, succeed stanza LIV., were omitted in later editions, with such good judgment, that it has been thought best not to restore them to the text. The LVIIth stanza should, if they were inserted, begin, "But what avail," &c., as in the edition referred to. [F. J. C.]

LV.

'Better the toiling swain, oh, happier far!

Perhaps the happiest of the sons of men,

Who vigorous plies the plough, the team, or car;

Who houghs the field, or ditches in the glen,

Delves in his garden, or secures his pen.

The tooth of avarice poisons not his peace:
He tosses not in sloth's abhorred den;

From vanity he has a full release;

And, rich in nature's wealth, he thinks not of increase.

LVI.

'Good Lord! how keen are his sensations all! His bread is sweeter than the glutton's cates; The wines of France upon the palate pall, Compared with what his simple soul elates, The native cup whose flavour thirst creates; At one deep draught of sleep he takes the night; And for that heart-felt joy which nothing mates, Of the pure nuptial bed the chaste delight, The losel is to him a miserable wight.

Glaive, sword.

Bale, sorrow, trouble, misfor- Glee, joy, pleasure.

Eftsoons, immediately, often, Moe, more.

THE END.