Whose boughs o'erspread a straw- Then in his sketch-book 'gan to trace
Which was some lab'ring peasant's lot.
"Tell me," he said, "my honest dame,
The state, the character, and name,
Of him or her, who, by Heav'n's grace,
Possess that noble, charming place."
"Tis Lady Bounty," she replied,
"Who does in that fine house reside:
All that you see, Sir, is her own;
But she has long been better known
For the good deeds which do resound
From grateful tongues the country
round.
To bless us all it doth appear
The leading features of the place :
And with a practis'd eye, combine
The picturesque of his design.
-A gard'ner soon to Patrick came
To know his master's rank and name;
When Pat ran all his virtues o'er;
Told what he was-and somewhat
The pencil now employ'd its pow'r;
Nor had the Doctor pass'd an hour
In tracing, with his utmost care,
A scene, at once so grand, so fair,
When Lady Bounty came to know,
What for his ease she could bestow,
That Heaven has plac'd this lady here. And with an hospitable grace,
It seems to be her only joy,
Her time, her fortune, to employ
In doing what is real good.
-My tears express my gratitude;
For in that cot my husband lies,
With useless limbs, and sightless eyes;
Whom the lightning's piercing flame
Has render'd senseless, blind and
lame,
The well-known feature of the place,
To dine he kindly was invited,
Nor was the smiling goodness slighted:
When with this welcome she address'd
Her rev'rend and delighted guest:
But all the comfort he can know,
Her care, her kindness do bestow:
Nor does she loll at home at ease;
She watches o'er her charities:"
E'en here she comes, as sent by Heaven,
To see that what she gives is given.
-Nay, while the poor she doth supply,
A splendid hospitality
The rich, who visit her, receive
With the proud welcome she can give."
Syntax, with all this story charm'd,
And his benignant bosom warm'd;
Resolv'd to view these proud domains
Where so much native beauty reigns,
And ply his skill to sketch the scenes
Where so much virtue intervenes.
-Near an alcove he took his seat
In view of this superb retreat;
"Since Doctor Syntax here is come,
He must believe himself at home,
And all that can his wishes crown
He will consider as his own:
For while he sojourns he will be
The object of all courtesy;
And to a yet far distant day
'Tis hop'd he will prolong his stay."
—The dinner o'er, the blessing given
For ev'ry bounteous grace of Heaven,
| The Doctor, who would never balk
A certain love he had to talk,
And which we know is least with-
stood
When wine is plenty and is good,
Had in a strain of modest glee
Told all his curious history.
Not that the Muse doth mean to hint
He here would go beyond the stint
Of learned sages' due decorum,
When the full bottles smile before
'em.
-The interesting story done,
With many a fond attention won,
The mansion's mistress silence broke,
And thus in pleasing accents spoke.
"It doth, indeed, my spirits cheer, To see the Rev'rend Doctor here, Whose many virtues, nay whose taste, Appear by none to be surpass'd; Nay, that same chance I happy call Which turn'd his face tow'rds Bounty Hall;
And while his conversation gives That pleasure which with knowledge lives,
I trust he will employ a day
His graphic talents to display
On the rich, charming scenes which
bound
My range of ornamental ground:
And that by his superior taste
My antique sculptures may be placed,
(Too long the victims of neglect,)
In proper site, with due effect:
It is a favour I shall ask
That he would undertake the task;
Nay, such assistance to impart
Is a free boon he owes to ART,
Which, for these trophies' sake, de-
mands
The labour of his head and hands."
The Doctor, highly flatter'd, bow'd, And marks of due obedience shew'd, Then promis'd, with to-morrow's sun, The curious work should be begun, Nor would he go till it were done. The morning came, with utmost care The Rev'rend Artist did prepare, With all his pencil's skill to trace The beauties of this favour'd place, When Lady Bounty to beguile His labours with approving smile,
| Stood on the terrace-wall to view
The Doctor's progress as he drew:
When, at once furious and alarm'd,
And, with most uncouth weapons
arm'd,
Led on by Pat, a noisy crew
Did a wild swarm of bees pursue,
And, with a loud and tinkling sound
Of rustic cymbals, chasing round
The flying rovers, eager strive
To tempt them to the offer'd hive:
But all these sounds were made in
vain;
[tain,
They did their humming flight main-
And spite of pan and pot and kettle,
Chose on the Doctor's head to settle.
-It must be thought indeed most
strange,
That this wing'd populace, who range
In search of sweets, should hope to
The liquid nectar in a wig; [swig
And there, though learning might be
crown'd,
That food ambrosial would be found:
But still it seems the Royal Bee
Would thither lead his colony.
-The Doctor felt no small alarm
As he beheld th' approaching swarm ;
And when their buzzing threats sur-
round him,
The fears of such a foe confound him, Who with a thousand stings might wound him.
The screaming Lady did entreat
That he would not forsake his seat,
But by all means avoid a riot,
And let them take their course in
quiet;
As then, she from experience knew,
No harm, no evil would ensue.
The Doctor said, "While I have
breath,
I'll run and not be stung to death."
Then off his hat and wig he threw,
And up the terrace-steps he flew.
Patrick, with impetuous tread,
Flung the hive tow'rds his Master's
head
To save his bald pate from the chace
Of this same flying stinging race.
They then hurried down the slope,
Which was so steep they could not
stop;
Syntax went first and Patrick after, But both plung'd headlong in the water,
Which in a sweeping, close meander,
Beneath the terrace chose to wander:
Though no harm did this fall bestow,
But being wet from top to toe:
And that was small, when ev'ry care
Of the kind Lady would prepare
What the good Doctor's state requir'd:
All he could ask for or desir'd,
Was ready to obey his call;
And ev'ry soul in Bounty-Hall
Did all their proud attention ply,
So that he soon was warm and dry,
Talk'd o'er in terms of frolic ease
His curious battle with the bees,
And made his tumble in the water
A source of fun and gen'ral laughter.
His hat and wig the honied race
Had not found a fit resting place,
Or as retir'd and snug retreats
Where they might lodge ambrosial
So that unspoil'd they did remain
When to their owner brought again.
—His troubled toil he soon renew'd,
And with such eager zeal pursued
Th' allotted task,-that e'er the sun
Had gone its round, his work was
-Syntax had made the chaste design With equal space and measur'd line
Which would each pleasing form admit
Where'er the spot best suited it.
The statues, now in order plac'd,
The niches on the terrace grac'd,
And sculptur'd vases were display'd
To range along the balustrade:
While the willow's pendant bough
Hangs o'er the solemn urn below,
And the sarcophagus is seen
Amid the cypress' darksome green.
But it appears, this was not all
That Syntax did at Bounty-Hall:
His pencil promis'd to impart
The utmost power of its art,
That Madam's Boudoir might abound
With Drawings of the scenes around.
The Lady, in no common measure, Thus made known her grateful plea
"How to express my just regard And how to shape a due reward, For all the service you have shown, For what you're doing and have done, I cannot to my mind declare, Though that shall be my future care : But still there is another call, Upon your art at Bounty-Hail, For much I wish that you would trace The features of my homely face: It would please me and others too To have my portrait done by you; And you, my Rev'rend Sir, shall know
The reasons why my wishes flow
That you this favour would bestow.
Expanded on the stuccoed wall
Of
my old mansion's stately hall,
You see my form at large appear,
When in my three-and-twentieth year
And deck'd in all the proud array
Which gaudy fashion could display,
|