Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/317

COUNTESS OP WINCHILSEA ���179 ���Who proffer'd Safety to her Tribe, Wou'd she but shew them or describe, And serving him, his Favour bribe. �When thus she did his Highness tell; 10 �In Looks my Young do all excel, Nor Nightingales can sing so well. �You'd joy to see the pretty Souls, With wadling Steps and frowzy Poles, Come creeping from their secret Holes. �But I ne'er let them take the Air, The Fortune-hunters do so stare; And Heiresses indeed they are. �This ancient Yew three hundred Years, �Has been possess'd by Lineal Heirs: 20 �The Males extinct, now All is Theirs. �I hope I've done their Beauties right, Whose Eyes outshine the Stars by Night; Their Muffs and Tippets too are White. �The King of Cedars wav'd his Power, And swore he'd fast ev'n from that Hour, Ere he'd such Lady Birds devour. �Th' Agreement seal'd, on either part, �The Owl now promis'd, from her Heart �All his Night- Dangers to divert; 30 �As Centinel to stand and Whoop, If single Fowl, or Shoal, or Troop Should at his Palace aim or stoop. �But home, one Evening without Meat, The Eagle comes, and takes his Seat, Where they did these Conditions treat. ��� �