Page:The Poetical Works of Thomas Parnell (1833).djvu/185

Rh But thus, resolv'd, the blue-ey'd maid replies. In vain, my father! all their dangers plead; To such, thy Pallas never grants her aid. My flowery wreaths they petulantly spoil, And rob my crystal lamps of feeding oil, Ills following ills: but what afflicts me more, My veil, that idle race profanely tore. The web was curious, wrought with art divine; Relentless wretches! all the work was mine; Along the loom the purple warp I spread, Cast the light shoot, and cross'd the silver thread. In this their teeth a thousand breaches tear; The thousand breaches skilful hands repair; For which vile earthly duns thy daughter grieve: The gods, that use no coin, have none to give; And learning's goddess never less can owe: Neglected learning gains no wealth below. Nor let the frogs to win my succour sue, Those clamorous fools have lost my favour too. For late, when all the conflict ceas'd at night, When my stretch'd sinews work'd with eager fight; When spent with glorious toil, I left the field, And sunk for slumber on my swelling shield; Lo from the deep, repelling sweet repose, With noisy croakings half the nation rose: Devoid of rest, with aching brows I lay, Till cocks proclaim'd the crimson dawn of day. Let all, like me, from either host forbear, Nor tempt the flying furies of the spear; Let heavenly blood, or what for blood may flow,