LITERATURE AND SCIENCE OF ENGLAND. 63 



The little river Boyd, which flows into the Avon at 

 Bitton, is peculiarly celebrated by another poet of 

 those times, now as it seems undeservedly fallen into 

 oblivion, John Davors, who in 1613 published a 

 didactic poem on the art of Angling. He speaks of it 

 as if it were his native stream, and it certainly was 

 the favourite scene of his pastime. 



It is pleasant to know and to remember that a place 

 which we value has been mingled with the poetic 

 imaginings of the great bards of our country. The 

 being, half man, half demon, who presents himself 

 under the name of Merlin from the utmost depths of 

 our history, and w^hose vaticinations, weak andfooHsh 

 as they are, have at different periods contributed to 

 shake the kingdom, had his mind directed upon our 

 heated springs, and he foretells that under the reign 

 of the Mouldiwarp they shall become cold. The Wife 

 of Bath will be known to the latest posterity in the 

 works of Chaucer, or the transversion of the story 

 by Pope, when the English language had become more 

 settled. Bath occurs several times in the Fairy 

 Queen ; and Shakespeare has this fanciful description 

 of what is its peculiar characteristic : — 



The little Love-God, lying once asleep, 



Laid by his side his heart -inflaming brand, 



Whilst many nymphs that vowed chaste life to keep 

 Came tripping by : but in her maiden hand * 



