Page:Tales of instruction, in verse and prose.pdf/8

(8) Hither the walkers turn with weary feet:

Then bleſs the manſion, & the maſter greet:

Their greeting fair beſtow'd, with guiſe,

The courteous maſter hears, and thus replies:

"Without a vain, without a grudging heart,

"To him who gives us all, I yield a part;

"From him you come, for him accept it here,

"A frank & ſober, more than coſtly chear."

He ſpoke, and bid the welcome table ſpread

Then talk'd of virtue till the time of bed;

When the grave houſhold round his hall repair,

Warn’d by a bell, and cloſe the hours with pray'r.

At length the world, renew'd by calm repoſe,

Was ſtrong for toil, the dappled morn aroſe.

Before the pilgrims part, the younger

Near the clos'd cradle, where an infant ſlept,

And writh'd his neck; the landlord's little pride,

O ſtrange return! grew black, and gafp'd, and dy'd.

Horror of horrors! what! his only ſon!

How look'd our hermit when the fact was done!

Not hell, tho' hell's black jaws in ſunder part,

And breathe blue fire, could more aſſault his heart.