Between their heads the mother flew,

Prompt to resume her nursery care: But Tom, whose breast for glory burn'd, In less than half an hour return'd.

With him came Ned, as cool and sly
As Tom was resolute and stout;

So, fair and softly, they drew nigh,

Cowering and keeping sharp look-out,

Till they had reach'd the copse,—to see,
But not alarm the enemy.

Guess, with what transport they descried,
How, as before, the serpent lay

Coil'd round the nest, in slumbering pride;-
The urchins chuckled o'er their prey,
And Tom's right hand was lifted soon,
Like Greenland whaler's with harpoon.

Across its neck the fork he brought,
And pinn'd it fast upon the ground:

The reptile woke, and quick as thought

84

90

96

Curl'd round the stick, curl'd round and round;

While, head and tail, Ned's nimble hands

Tied at each end, with pack-thread bands.

102

Scarce was the enemy secured,

When Lucy timidly drew near,

But by their shouting well assured,
Eyed the green captive void of fear;

The lads, stark wild with victory, flung

Their caps aloft,-they danced, they sung.

108

But Lucy, with an anxious look.

Turn'd to her own dear nest, when lo!

To legs and wings the young ones took,
Hopping and tumbling to and fro;
The parents chattering from above
With all the earnestness of love.

Alighting now among their train,
They peck'd them on new feats to try;
But many a lesson seem'd in vain,

Before the giddy things would fly;
Lucy both laugh'd and cried, to see
How ill they play'd at liberty.

I need not tell the snake's sad doom,
You may be sure he lived not long;
Cork'd in a bottle for a tomb,

Preserved in spirits and in song,
His skin in Tom's museum shines,
You read his story in these lines.

114

120

J. MONTGOMERY (abridged).

126

THE summer and autumn had been so wet,
That in winter the corn was growing yet;

'Twas a piteous sight to see all around
The grain lie rotting on the ground.

4

Every day the starving poor

Crowded around Bishop Hatto's door,
For he had a plentiful last year's store,
And all the neighbourhood could tell
His granaries were furnish'd well.

9

1 A marvellous or romantic story from old times, often not

founded on truth.

At last Bishop Hatto appointed a day

To quiet the poor without delay;

He bade them to his great barn repair,

And they should have food for the winter there.

13

Rejoiced such tidings good to hear,

The poor folk flock'd from far and near;

The great barn was full as it could hold

Of women and children, and young and old.

Then when he saw it could hold no more,
Bishop Hatto he made fast the door;
And while for mercy on Christ they call,
He set fire to the barn and burnt them all.

'I'faith, 'tis an excellent bonfire!" quoth he, "And the country is greatly obliged to me, For ridding it in these times forlorn

Of rats, that only consume the corn."

17

21

25

So then to his palace returned he,

And he sat down to supper merrily,

And he slept that night like an innocent man,
But Bishop Hatto never slept again.

29

In the morning as he enter'd the hall,
Where his picture hung against the wall,
A sweat like death all over him came,

For the rats had eaten it out of the frame.

33

As he look'd there came a man from the farm,
He had a countenance white with alarm;

66

My lord, I open'd your granaries this morn,

And the rats had eaten all your corn."

Another came running presently,
And he was pale as pale could be,

"Fly! my Lord Bishop, fly," quoth he,

37

"Ten thousand rats are coming this wayThe Lord forgive you for yesterday!"

"I'll go to my tower on the Rhine,” replied he, "Tis the safest place in Germany;

The walls are high, and the shores are steep,

And the stream is strong, and the water deep."

42

46

Bishop Hatto fearfully hasten'd away,
And he cross'd the Rhine without delay,
And reach'd his tower, and barr'd with care
All the windows, doors, and loopholes there.

50

He laid him down and closed his eyes,

But soon a scream made him arise;
He started, and saw two eyes of flame

On his pillow from whence the screaming came.

54

He listen'd and look'd; it was only the cat;
But the Bishop he grew more fearful for that,
For she sat screaming, mad with fear,
At the army of rats that was drawing near.

For they have swum over the river so deep,
And they have climb'd the shores so steep,
And up the tower their way is bent
To do the work for which they were sent.

58

62

They are not to be told by the dozen or score,

By thousands they come, and by myriads and more;
Such numbers had never been heard of before,
Such a judgment had never been witness'd of yore. 66

Down on his knees the Bishop fell,

And faster and faster his beads did he tell,
As louder and louder drawing near

The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.

70

And in at the windows, and in at the door,
And through the walls helter-skelter they pour,
And down from the ceiling, and up through the floor,
From the right and the left, from behind and before,
From within and without, from above and below,
And all at once to the Bishop they go.

They have whetted their teeth against the stones,
And now they pick the Bishop's bones;

They gnaw'd the flesh from every limb,

For they were sent to do judgment on him.

76

80

R. SOUTHEY.

THE WAY TO FIND OUT PRIDE.
PRIDE, ugly pride, sometimes is seen
By haughty looks, and lofty mien ;
But oftener it is found that pride
Loves deep within the heart to hide ;
And while the looks are mild and fair,
It sits and does its mischief there.
Now if you really wish to find,
If pride be lurking in your mind,
Inquire if you can bear a slight,
Or patiently give up your right?
Can you submissively consent
To take reproof and punishment;
And feel no angry temper start
In any corner of your heart?
Can you at once confess a crime,
And promise for another time?
Or say you've been in a mistake;
Nor try some poor excuse to make,

5

ΙΟ

15