OCCASIONAL POEMS. 597 



Such a time with Bob to stay : 

 Let me now in bardish way 

 On your own St. David's day 

 Toss you a simple dish up. 



'Tis a tale we learnt at school, 

 Oft we broke domestic rule, 

 Standing till our brows were cool 



In the forbidden lobby. 1 

 There we talked and there we laughed, 

 Till the townsfolk thought us daft, 

 What of that ? a thorough draft 



Was and is still my hobby. 



To my tale : In ancient days, 

 Ere men left the good old ways, 

 Lived a lady whose just praise 



Passes all fancied glory. 

 Eich was she in field and store, 

 Kicher in the sons she bore, 

 How could she be honoured more ? 



Listen and hear the story. 



On a high and festive day 

 When the chariots bright and gay 

 To the temple far away 



Passed in majestic order, 

 When the hour was nigh at hand, 

 She who should have led the band 

 Found no oxen at command, 



Searching through all her border. 2 



Then her two sons brave and strong 

 Girt their limbs with band and thong, 

 And before the wondering throng 

 Drew their exulting mother. 



1 P. 68. 2 Herodotus, i. 31. 



