Thus it was I drew her

Scouring of a kettle,

(Faith! her blushing cheeks Reddened on the metal!)

Ah! but 'tis in vain

That I try to sketch it; The pot perhaps is like,

But Peggy's face is wretched.

No, the best of lead,

And of Indian rubber,

Never could depict

That sweet kettle scrubber!

See her as she moves!

Scarce the ground she touches;

Airy as a fay,

Graceful as a duchess;

Bare her rounded arm,

Bare her little leg is;

Vestris never showed

Ankles like to Peggy's;

Braided is her hair,

Soft her look and modest,

Slim her little waist,

Comfortably bodiced.

This I do declare,

Happy is the laddy

Who the heart can share

Of Peg of Limavaddy; Married if she were,

Blest would be the daddy Of the children fair

Of Peg of Limavaddy. Beauty is not rare

In the land of Paddy; Fair beyond compare

Is Peg of Limavaddy.

Citizen or Squire,

Tory, Whig, or Radical would all desire

Peg of Limavaddy.

Had I Homer's fire,

Or that of Serjeant Taddy,

Meetly I'd admire

Peg of Limavaddy.

And till I expire,

Or till I grow mad, I

Will sing unto my lyre

Peg of Limavaddy!

MAY DAY ODE.

BUT yesterday a naked sod,

The dandies sneered from Rotten Row,

And cantered o'er it to and fro;

And see, 'tis done!

As though 'twere by a wizard's rod

A blazing arch of lucid glass
Leaps like a fountain from the grass,

To meet the sun!

A quiet green but few days since,
With cattle browsing in the shade,
And here are lines of bright arcade
In order raised!

A palace, as for fairy Prince,

A rare pavilion, such as man

Saw never, since mankind began

5*

And built and glazed! (53)

A peaceful place it was but now,
And lo! within its shining streets

A multitude of nations meets;

A countless throng,

I see beneath the crystal bow,

And Gaul and German, Russ and Turk,

Each with his native handiwork

And busy tongue.

I felt a thrill of love and awe

To mark the different garb of each;

The changing tongue, the various speech
Together blent.

A thrill, methinks, like His who saw
"All people dwelling upon earth
Praising our God with solemn mirth
And one consent."

High sovereign, in your Royal state,
Captains, and chiefs, and councillors,
Before the lofty palace doors

Are open set;

Hush! ere you pass the shining gate;
Hush! ere the heaving curtain draws,
And let the Royal pageant pause

A moment yet.

People and prince a silence keep!
Bow coronet and kingly crown,

Helmet and plume, bow lowly down,
The while the priest,

Before the splendid portal step,

(While still the wondrous banquet stays,) From Heaven supreme a blessing prays Upon the feast.

Then onwards let the triumph march;
Then let the loud artillery roll,

And trumpets ring, and joy-bells toll,

And pass the gate.

Pass underneath the shining arch,

'Neath which the leafy elms are green;

Ascend unto your throne, O queen!

And take your state.

Behold her in her Royal place;

A gentle lady; and the hand

That sways the sceptre of this land,

How frail and weak!

Soft is the voice, and fair the face,

She breathes amen to prayer and hymn;

No wonder that her eyes are dim,

And pale her cheek.