OLD ENGLISH WOOD. 311 



V. 



Majestic grandeur stamp'd that solemn scene. 



For weary miles an outstretch' d forest lay, 

 Seldom if ever trod by mortal being ; 



Here nature sat enthron'd in wild array, 



Profusely deck'd, with firs and witching bay ;* 

 Here broad oaks threw afar their shady arms 



O'er creeping brambles, which unguided stray 

 Around the trunk, where loving ivy swarms, 

 And playful squirrels climb, rock'd safe from all alarms. 



VI. 



Here quiv'ring aspens kiss'd the whispering gale, 

 And hawthorns blossom'd, hid in sunless shade ; 



The mourning ring-dove coo'd her doleful tale, 

 The holly green its shining leaves display'd, 

 The branching birch o'erhung the flowery glade, 



The tow'ring elm shelter' d the noisy rook, 

 The hazel in rich foliage stood array'd, 



The willow trembled o'er the wimpling brook, 



Whose bright, dark, mirror d face tall whistling reeds o'erlook. 



VII. 



The sullen crabtree flourish' d 'neath the beech, 



Above, the toppling wild pine rear'd its head, 

 As tho' the low'ring clouds it fain would reach, 



So proudly high those lofty arms were spread, 



Whose rustling leaves the winds profusely shed. 

 Luxuriant box stood rob'd in gloomy hue, 



And cypress nodded o'er the glen's dark bed, 

 Where stately ash o'ertopp'd the bow-fam'd yew, 

 Bursting in silent grandeur on the astonish'd view. 



VIII. 



The woods, and glades, and dells were painted round 



With healing herbs, and variegated flowers ; 

 The savage forest then no lordling owned, 



No studied art bedeck'd her native bowers, 



Her rugged silent breast inhaled the showers, 

 And blushing roses shed their beauteous bloom ; 



The circling woodbine o'er the white-thorn tower-. 

 They live and die amid the forest gloom, 

 Like maiden beauty snatch'd untimely to the tomb. 



IX. 



Ill-scented henbane o'er the gromel hung, 



And humble chickweed 'neath wild rockets spread ; 



'Mid noisome foxes'-glove and serpents'- tongue 



-The purple true-love rear'd its shining head. 



There hoary woodsage pleasing odours shed 



O'er richly tinted golden maiden-hair, 



And spreading dove's-foot garb'd in glaring red, 



And cuckoo flowers that like some modest fair, 



Bears a slight crimson blush beneath the unwelcome stare. 



Witching bay," wore as a preventive against witchcraft. GALEN. 



