Page:The Village - Crabbe (1783).djvu/32

 Such as you find on yonder sportive Green, The 'Squire's tall gate and churchway-walk between; Where loitering stray a little tribe of friends, On a fair Sunday when the sermon ends: Then rural beaux their best attire put on, To win their nymphs, as other nymphs are won; While those long wed go plain, and by degrees, Like other husbands, quit their care to please. Some of the sermon talk, a sober crowd, And loudly praise, if it were preach'd aloud; Some on the labours of the week look round, Feel their own worth, and think their toil renown'd; While some, whose hopes to no renown extend, Are only pleas'd to find their labours end.

Thus, as their hours glide on with pleasure fraught, Their careful masters brood the painful thought; Much