A SONNET. [Perhaps addressed to his Wife.] SEVEN times hath Janus ta'en new year by hand, Seven times hath blustering March blown forth his power, To drive out April buds, by sea and land, For minion May to deck most trim with flower: Seven times Autumnus' heat hath been delay'd, UNCERTAIN AUTHORS. THE THREE RAVENS. A DIRGE. I. THERE were three ravens sat on a tree, There were three ravens sat on a tree, They were as black as they might be, With a down, derry, derry, derry, down, down. II. The one of them said to his make,1 Where shall we our breakfast take? There lies a knight slain under his shield." IV. His hounds they lie down at his feet, So well they their master keep: i.e. his mate. V. His hawks they fly so eagerly, There's no fowl dare him come nigh. VI. Down there comes a fallow doe, As great with young as she might go: VII. She lift up his bloody head, And kist his wounds that were so red: VIII. She got him upon her back And carried him to earthen lake: IX. She buried him before the prime; She was dead herself ere even-song time! X. God send every gentleman, Such hawks, such hounds, and such a lemman! This elegant and pathetic little piece is taken from Mr. Ritson's Collection of Ancient Songs, (Johnson, 1792) where it is printed, together with the original music., The burthen of the first stanza is to be supplied in all the others. YLOOP.' The perfect Trial of a faithful Friend. [From the Paradise of Dainty Devices.] NOT stayed state, but feeble stay, Not costly seat, but lowest fall; Not weal I mean, but wretched woe, Doth truly try the friend from foe: 'Mr. Stevens supposed the real name to be Pooley, but no anecdotes of this author are known. ON THE CERTAINTY OF DEATH. [From the same Collection.] [Abridged from 6 stanzas.] To die, dame nature did man frame: Death hath in all the earth a right; The wise, the just, the strong, the high, The chaste, the meek, the free of heart; The rich, the poor-who can deny- Seeing no man then can death escape, |