THE

OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN.

A POEM.

BOOK THE SEcond.

་

ARGUMENT:

I. The Guardian Genius of the Houfe of Andarton convening the inferior Spirits-apprehenfive of fome impending evil-affigning to the Feri their different Stations in the Protection of the Family, &c. &c.

II. View of Sir HUMPHREY'S private Life-in his ordinary Mode of fpending the Day, his Walk before Breakfast RACHEL-The Family at Breakfaft-Sir HUMPHREY's Employments in the Courfe of the Morning-RACHEL'S Occupations—HARRIET'S-Mifs PRUE'S-ANNETTE, Mifs PRUE'S Maid-The Family at Dinner-Sir HUMPHREY'S fporting Days-His Hunting-His Companions in the Field-Supper, &c. &c.-Feaft-Days-HarvestHome-Meeting of the Tenants-Anniversary of Fox-Chace-Christmas-Eve-Christmas-Day-Defcription of a Parish-Feast on that Day-NewYear's-Day-Twelfth-Day, on which Sir HUMPHREY was born-View of Sir HUMPHREY, &c. in public-At Church-HERBERT the Curate-Sir HUMPHREY as a Justice of the Peace—At the Seffions.

III. HARRIET'S Pregnancy-Birth of a Son, ALLAN-DE-ANDARTON.

SUCH

was the household of Andarton-Grove,

A patriarchal tent, fuftain'd by love,
Where all (but one) delighted to impart
The blifs that fprings from harmony of heart;
When now, the fpirit, who with guardian fway
Had watch'd Andarton from its earliest day,
Glanc'd thro' the glimmering park at fall of eve,
And, as the duskier wood began to heave

With univerfal tremor, fought the roof

Of a fair oak, whofe leaves were knit, ftar-proof

An oak whose acorn in the genial earth

Sir HUMPHREY's father, at his infant's birth,
Had duly fet, and round it smooth'd the green,
And trimm'd the neighbour trees, an ambient screen.
There, as beneath its arborous boughs he stood,
He smil'd upon the pride of all the wood.

The genius mus'd; while, towering on his head, A helm appear'd, with Paynim carnage red, Whence the grav'd image of a blackmore gleam'd,

And on his veft the filver crefcent beam'd.

Sudden his potent wand he wav'd around,

And fleeting fhadows brufh'd the chequer'd ground;
And from the crefcent, tremulously bright,

His robe, more luftrous, shot an argent light;
When, gathering in aërial fquadrons, fhone
The inferior fpirits, that his empire own―
The Feri, who had lent their magic aid,
Thro' ages, to protect Andarton's fhade.

"Ye, who with many a hyacinthine bell, "With many a tulip, bid your couches fwell; "Or on the wall-flower, or the bruised pink, "In gentle flumber from the funbeam fink; "And oft delight, till evening's purple close, "On the warm fouthern hillfide to repose, "Attend: and, for a while, your pastimes leave,

"Where Oberon loves the shadowy dance to weave;