138 POETRY. Oft. 5, 



Of happy days and years. Spring ever reign'd ; 



And her dominion was in every clime ; 



Nor fufferM interruption from the rage 



Of wintry Eurus. Cattle then, both herd 



And flock, drew vital breath : th' unyielding race 



Of humankind rofe from the ftubborn glebe : 



Wild bealls the foreft, and the flarry hoft 



The firmament, in bright battalion, rang'd. — 



Yet could not earth, exhaufted all and weak, 



The labour of creation flill endure, 



Unlefs refrefli'd with intervals of reft, 



Or refpite interpos'd, between th' extremes 



Of heat and cold : and if indulgent heaven 



Knew or regarded not her feeble frame. 



Stirlingshire, pmilerGQn. 



The Choice of a Wife. 

 For the Bee, 



Ye Gods a'.tend ! — I long for honey,. 



And all the fweets of matrimony; 



But as I won't run helter-flcelter, 



I wifli to bargain for my halter. 



Affift, ye powers, who guide thro' life, 



And give a tender virtuous wife. 



No forward mynx, with giggling air, 



Wliofe tongue an inch or two might fpare ; 



Lavifli of drefs, yet never clean, 



Intsnt to fee and to be feen ; 



Whofe heart beats pat — produce a man. 



Slied teaze me as flie plagues her fan. 



No formal prude, w'th decent fmile. 



Emblem of innocence and guile. 



No fqueamifh Mifs, who can't bear health / 



With coffers fill'd with ftore of wealth. 



Tho' jolly, blooming, fair, and fat. 



An heirefs muft be delicate. 



I want not flippant vain conceit, 



Nor thofe who won't at table eat ; 



