.

For mark, how unconscious of beauty's attraction,
The soft curling tresses and azure array,

How calm in denial, how modest in action,

She steals from the rude-wooing Zephyr away.

V.

Yet freely she quaffs of the dews of the morning,
Nor shrinks from the genial caresses of noon;
While they with gay brilliants her chalice adorning,
Of sunshine and moisture contribute the boon.

VI.

For not by retreat, but disclosure engender'd,

Rich tints and fair verdure her blossoms attire ;

As from praise well applied, and advice gently tender'd, Unwilling reserve gathers strength to aspire.

VII.

Then let not the shades of obscurity smother

Those endowments, dear maid, you too faintly disclose : Be diffident still; but be warn'd by a brother,

That ne'er without Sun the wild Hyacinth blows.

PREFACE

TO THE

GREY GEESE OF ADDLESTROP HILL.

THE following Ballad was written at Daylesford, the residence of Warren Hastings, Esq. and was suggested by the circumstance of his having removed a number of large stones which lay in the neighbourhood, to form the rock-work which adorns his grounds, furnishing materials chiefly for a little island, and the declivities of an artificial cascade.

These stones, which are situated on the summit of a hill in the parish of Addlestrop, in Gloucestershire, near the point where it borders upon the three adjoining counties, have stood for time immemorial, and

whether they owe their position to art or nature, accident or design, has never been decided; but popular tradition has afforded a ready solution of this doubt, by ascribing their origin to enchantment.

It is accordingly pretended, that in days of yore, as an old woman was driving her geese to pasture upon Addlestrop hill, she was met by one of the weird Sisters, who demanded alms, and upon being refused, converted the whole flock into a heap of stones.

In relating this metamorphosis, no variation has been made from the ancient legend, nor has any deviation from truth been resorted to in the narration of their subsequent history, farther than by attributing to the magical completion of a fictitious prophecy, what was in reality the effect of creative invention.

The Grey Geese of Addlestrop Hill.

-Et me fecere poëtam

Pierides; sunt et mihi carmina; me quoque dicunt
Vatem pastores: sed non ego credulus illis.

Nam neque adhuc Vario videor, nec dicere Cinnâ
Digna, sed argutos inter strepere Anser olores.

VIRGIL. Ecl. ix. v. 32.

I.

BENEATH the grey shroud of a wintery cloud

The day-star dimly shone;

And the wind it blew chill upon Addlestrop hill,

And over the Four-shire stone.