HAZEL-NUT TREE. 161 



Among the woods 

 And o'er the pathless rocks I forced my way, 

 Until at length I came to one dear nook 

 Unvisited, where not a broken bough 

 Drooped with its withered leaves, ungracious sign 

 Of devastation ! but the hazels rose 

 Tall and erect, with milk-white clusters hung, 

 A virgin scene ! A little while I stood, 

 Breathing with such suppression of the heart 

 As joy delights in ; and with wise restraint, 

 Voluptuous, fearless of a rival, eyed 

 The banquet, or beneath the trees I sate 

 Among the flowers, and with the flowers 1 played : 



* * * Then up I rose, 



And dragged to earth each branch and bough with crash, 



And merciless ravage, and the shady nook 



Of hazels, and the green and massy bower 



Deformed and sullied, patiently gave up 



Their quiet being ; and unless I now 



Confound my present feelings with the past, 



Even then when from the bower 1 turned away 



Exulting, rich beyond the wealth of kings, 



I felt a sense of pain when I beheld 



The silent trees, and the intruding sky." 



Gay, describing some of the innocent incantations of 

 the shepherds, makes one of his ruddy damsels say 



" Two hazel nuts I threw into the flame, 

 And to each nut I gave a sweetheart's name ; 

 This with the loudest bounce me sore amazed, 

 That in a flame of brightest colour blazed. 

 As blazed the nut so may thy passion grow : 

 For 'twas thy nut that did so brightly glow." 



GAY'S Shepherd's Week 



