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

276 ANCIENT SONGS
With coftly gifts and jewels fine,
They did endeavour her to win ;
With banquets and the choieeft wine,
For to allure her unto fin :
Moil perfons were of high degree,
Who courted fair Penelope.
With modefly and- comely grace*
Their wanton fuits fhe did denye j
No tempting charms could e'er deface
Her deareft hufband's memorye ;
But conftant fhe would Hill remain,
Hopeing to fee him once again.
Her book her dayly comfort was,
And that fhe often did perufe
She feldom looked in her glafs
Powder and paint fhe ne'er would ufe,
I wifh all ladies were as free
From pride, as was Penelope.
; ; :
She in her needle took delight,
And likewife in her fpinning-wheel
Her maids about her every night
Did ufe the diftaff, and the reel
The fpiders, that on rafters twine,
Scarce fpin a thread more foft and fine.
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Some-