268 LESSONS FOR THE LITERATI. 



And miserable authors, who 

 Are treated so, will think so too, 

 Whom too much honour does befall 

 If they are criticised at all. 

 A superficial view and slight, 

 Befits the nonsense that they write ; 

 So make much fuss about a weasel 

 But gives encouragement to these ill- 

 Minded things to shout away, 

 " They know our worth whate'er they say. 



THE GREAT AND THE SMALL BELL. 



In a cathedral tower, there hung 

 A mighty sounding bell, that rung 

 On high and solemn days alone, 

 In slowest time and deepest tone, 

 Nor did it tolling ever go 

 Beyond a dozen strokes or so ; 

 For this, and for its size and sound, 

 Its fame had spread the country round. 



Within the city's bounds was rated 

 A hamlet poorly populated. 

 With a poor church decay'd by age 

 And belfry like an hermitage, 

 A small crack'd bell performing there 

 The most important character. 

 The villagers, who wished to have 

 Chimes equal those the great bell gave, 

 Resolv'd the-crack'd and jingling thing 

 Should likewise slow and seldom ring, 

 'Till with the country-folks, at last 

 The small bell for a great bell pass'd ! 



Likely enough grave looks alone 

 Oft veil a fool, and many a one 

 Scarce deigns to ope his lips, and tries 

 In such a way to ape the wise. 



R. A. 



