Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: MARY OF MARLEY. At Mar ley stood the rural cot, In Bingley's sweet sequester'd dale, The spreading oaks enclos'd the spot Where dwelt the beauty of the vale. Bless'd with a small, but fruitful farm, Beneath the high majestic hill, Where Nature spread her every charm That can the mind with pleasure fill. V Here bloom'J the maid nor vain nor proud, But like an unapproached flower, Hid from the flattery of the crowd, Unconscious of her beauty's power. Her ebon locks were richer far Than is the raven's glossy plume; Her eyes outshone the ev'ning star; Her lovely cheeks the rose's bloom. The mountain snow, that falls by night, By which the bending heath is press'd, Did never shine in purer white Than was upon her virgin breast. i The blushes of her innocence Great Nature's hand had pencil'd o'er; And Modesty the veil had wrought Which Mary, lovely virgin, wore. At early morn each fav'rite cow The tuneful voice of Mary knew ; Their answers humin'd,—then wand'ring slow, From daisies dash'd the pearly dew. When lovely on the green she stood, And to her poultry threw the grain, Ringdoves and pheasants from the wood Flew forth and glitter'd in her train. The thrush upon the rosy bow'r Would sit and sing while Mary stay'd; Her lambs their pasture frisked o'er, And on the new-sprung clover fed. She milk'd beneath the beech-tree's shade, And there the turf was worn away, Where cattle had for cent'ries laid, '. To shun the summer's sultry ray. Lysander, from the neighbouring vale, Where Wharfs deceitful currents move, To Mary told a fervent tale, And Mary could not help but love. The richest might have come and sigh'd ; Lysander had her favour won. — Her breast was constant as the tide, A...