JULY. 183 



of John Evelyn well might envy us a wood 

 lounge at this period ; 



All the cool freshness of the humid air ; 

 the walk by the border of the brook chiming 

 over the shadow-chequered pebbles, the green 

 and breezy canopy above us, and luxurious 

 thoughts in our hearts. 



Throughout the month, the halloo and clapper 

 of the bird-boy, a classical being since the days 

 of Giles Bloomfield, are heard amongst the fields 

 of ripening corn, and towards the end of it corn 

 harvest commences. 



SUMMER AND THE POET. 



POET. 



Oh ! golden, golden summer, 

 What is it thou hast done 1 



Thou hast chased each vernal roamer 

 With thy fiercely burning sun. 



Glad was the cuckoo's hail, — 

 Where may we hear it now r 



Thou hast driven the nightingale 

 From the waving hawthorn bough. 



Thou hast shrunk the mighty river ; 



Thoa hast made the small brook flee 

 And the light gales faintly quiver 



Through the dark and shadowy tree. 



