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JANUARY AND MAY.

When now the fourth revolving day was run,(’Twas June, and Cancer had receiv’d the Sun)Forth from her chamber came the beauteous bride,The good old Knight mov’d {lowly by her fide.High mafs was fung; they feafted in the hall;The fervants round flood ready at their call. 405The Squire alone was abfent from the board,And much his ficknefs griev’d his worthy lord,Who pray’d his fpoufe, attended with her train,To vifit Damian, and divert his pain.

Th’ obliging dames obey’d with one confent; 410They left the hall, and to his lodging went.The female tribe furround him as he lay,

And clofe befide him fat the gentle May :Where, as the try’d his pulfe, he foftly drewA heaving figh, and caft a mournful view! 415Then gave his bill, and brib’d the pow’rs divine,With fecret vows, to favour his defign.

Who ftudies now but difeontented May ?

On her foft couch uneafily {he lay:

The lumpifh hulband fnor’d away the night, 420Till coughs awak’d him near the morning light.What then he did, I’ll not prefume to tell,

Nor if {he thought herfelf in heav’n or hell:Honed and dull in nuptial bed they lay.

Till the bell toll’d, and ail arofe to pray. 425Where it by forceful deftiny decreed,

Or did from chance, or nature’s pow’r proceed;Or that fome ftar, with afpe£l kind to love,Shed its felected influence from above;