Page:Miller of Gloucestershire.pdf/3

3 And vain would be the ploughman’s pain Who harrows up the soil:

In vain, without the miller’s aid, The sowing and the dressing: Then lure an honest miller he Must be a public blessing.

And such a miller now I make The subject of my long; Which though it shall be very true, Shall not be very long.

This miller lives in Glou’stershire; I shall not tell his name; For those who seek the praise of God, Desire no other fame.

In Lift hard winter—who forgets The frost of ninety-five? Then all was dismal, scarce, and dear; And no poor man could thrive

Then husbandry long time stood still And work was at a stand: To make the matter worse, the mills Were froze throughout the land.