Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

ANDBALLADS, 269
There never light of chearful day
Difpers'd the hideous gloom ;
But dank and noifome vapours play
Around the wretched room : * 60
And adders, fnakes, and toads therein,
As afterwards was known,
I^ong in this loathfome vault had bin,
And were to monfters grown.
Into this foul and fearful place, 65;
The fair one innocent
Was cart, before her lady's face 1
Her malice to content.
This maid no fooner entcr'd is,
:
But firait, alas ! fhe hears jq
The toads to croak, and fnakes to hifs:
Then grievoufiy me fears.
Soon from their holes the vipers creep,
And fiercely her aiiail
Which makes the damfel forely weep, *rj
And her fad fate bewail.
With her fair hands me ftrives in vain
Her body to defend :
With fhrieks and cries me doth complain,
But all is to no end. So
A fer-