The Man who makes this feverish complaint
Is one of giant stature, who could dance
Equipp'd from head to foot in iron mail.

Ah gentle Love! if ever thought was thine
To store up kindred hours for me, thy face
Turn from me, gentle Love! nor let me walk
Within the sound of Emma's voice, or know
Such happiness as I have known to-day.

THE

IDLE SHEPHERD - BOYS,

OR,

DUNGEON-GILL FORCE.*

A PASTORAL.

The valley rings with mirth and joy ;
Among the hills the Echoes play

A never, never ending song

To welcome in the May.

The Magpie chatters with delight;

* Gill in the dialect of Cumberland and Westmoreland is a short, and for the most part, a steep narrow valley, with a stream running through it. Force is the word universally employed in these dialects for Waterfall.

The mountain Raven's youngling Brood

Have left the Mother and the Nest;

And they go rambling east and west

In search of their own food;

Or thro' the glittering Vapors dart
In very wantonness of heart.

II.

Beneath a rock, upon the grass,
Two Boys are sitting in the sun;
It seems they have no work to do,
Or that their work is done.

On pipes of sycamore they play
The fragments of a Christmas Hymn;
Or with that plant, which in our dale
We call Stag-horn, or Fox's Tail,

Their rusty Hats they trim:

And thus, as happy as the Day,

Those Shepherds wear the time away.

III.

Along the river's stony marge

The Sand-lark chaunts a joyous song;

The Thrush is busy in the wood,
And carols loud and strong.

A thousand Lambs are on the rocks,
All newly born! both earth and sky
Keep jubilee; and more than all,
Those Boys with their green Coronal;
They never hear the cry,

That plaintive cry! which up the hill
Comes from the depth of Dungeon-Gill.

IV.

Said Walter, leaping from the ground, "Down to the stump of yon old yew

"We'll for this Whistle run a race.

-Away the Shepherds flew.

They leapt they ran-and when they came

Right opposite to Dungeon-Gill,

Seeing that he should lose the prize,

Stop!" to his comrade Walter criesJames stopp'd with no good will:

Said Walter then, "Your task is here, " "Twill keep you working half a year.

V.

"Now cross where I shall cross-come on

"And follow me where I shall lead"

James proudly took him at his word,

But did not like the deed.

It was a spot, which you may see

If ever you to Langdale go:

Into a chasm a mighty Block

Hath fallen, and made a Bridge of rock :

The gulph is deep below;

And in a bason black and small

Receives a lofty Waterfall.