Scott 
 Anwell
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 A M W E L L. 

 
 A M W E L L. 
 
 DESCRIPTIVE POEM. 
 
 BY JOHN SCOTT, 
 
 -** 
 
 DUBLIN: 
 
 Printed for S. PRICE, W.WATSON, J. POTTS, 
 
 W. COLLES, T. WALKER, W.WILSON, J. 
 
 WILLIAMS, J. HOEY, C. JENKIN, M. MILLS^ 
 
 T. ARMITAGE, J. BEATTY, andC. TALBOT. 
 
 M.DCC.LXXVI.
 
 $> 31 a^ 
 
 A M W E L 
 
 DESCRIPTIVE POEM. 
 
 THERE dwells a fond defire in human minds, 
 When pleas'd, their pleafure to extend to thofe 
 Of kindred tafle ; and thence th' inchanting arts 
 Of Piture and of Song, the femblance fair 
 Of Nature's forms produce. This fond defire 5 
 
 Prompts me to {ing the lonely fylvan fcenes 
 Of AM WELL ; which fo oft in early youth, 
 "While novelty enhanc'd their native charms, 
 Gave rapture to my foul ; and often, ftill, 
 On life's calm moments flied ferener joy, 10 
 
 Def-
 
 [ 6 ] 
 
 Defcriptive Mufe ! vvhofe hand along the dream 
 Of ancient Thames^ thro' Richmond's fhady groves, 
 And Sheen's fair vallies, once thy Thamfon led ; 
 And once o'er green Carmarthen" 1 's woody dales, 
 And funny landfcapes of Campania's plain, 1 5 
 
 Thy other favour'd bard ; thou, who fo late, 
 In bowers by Clenfs wild peacks, to Shenftone's ear 
 Didft bring fweet {trains of rural melody 
 (Alas, no longer heard !) Vouchfafe thine aid: 
 From all our rich varieties of view, 2O 
 
 What beft may pleafe, affift me to feleft, 
 With art difpofe, with energy defcribe, 
 And its full image on the mind exprefs. 
 
 And ye, who e'er in thefe delightful fields 
 Confum'd with me the focial hour, while I 25 
 
 i$. Thomfon led,] Thomfon, Author of the Seafonr, 
 refuted part of his life near Richmond. 
 
 16. Thy other favour' d bard - } - ] Dyer, Author of 
 Grongar Hill ; the Ruins of Rome ; and that excellent 
 hegleSed poem, the Fleece. 
 
 17. Clent's luild peaks,] The Clent-Hills adjoin 
 to Hagley-park, and are not far diftant from the Lea- 
 
 fowes. 
 
 Your
 
 [ 7 1 
 
 Your walk conducted o'er their lovelieft fpots, 
 And on their faireft obje&s fix'd your fight ; 
 Accept this verfe, which may to memory call 
 That focial hour, and fweetly varied walk ! 
 
 And Thou by ftrong connubial union mine, 30 
 Mine by the ftronger union of the heart ; 
 In whom the lofs of parents and of Friends, 
 And &r, the firft fair partner of my joys, 
 All recompens'd I find ; whofe prefence chears 
 Thefoft domeftic fcene ; Maria, come ! 35 
 
 The Country calls us forth ; blithe Summer's hand 
 Sheds fweeteft flowers, and Morning's brighteft fmile 
 Illumines earth and air ; Maria, come ! 
 By winding pathways thro' the waving corn, 
 We reach the airy point that profpefl: yields, 4 O 
 Not vaft and awful, but confin'd and fair ; 
 Not the black mountain and the foamy main ; 
 Not the throng'd city and the bufy port ; 
 But pleafant interchange of foft afcent, 
 And level plain, and growth of ibady woods, 45 
 
 And twining courfe of rivers clear, and fight 
 
 Of
 
 [ 8 1 
 
 Of rural towns and rural cots, whofe roofs 
 Rife fcattering round, and animate the whole. 
 
 Far tow'rds the weft, clofe under flickering hills, 
 In verdant meads, by Lee's cerulean ftream, 50 
 
 Hertford's grey towers afcend ; the rude remains 
 Of high antiquity, from wafte efcap'd 
 Of envious Time, and violence of War. 
 For War there once, fo tells th' hifloric page, 
 Led Deflation's fteps: the hardy Dane, 55 
 
 By avarice lur'd o'er ocean's ftormy wave, 
 To ravage Albion's plains, his favourite feat 
 There fix'd awhile ; and there his caftles rear'd 
 Among the trees ; and there, beneath yon ridge 
 Of piny rocks, his conquering- navy moor'd, . 60 
 With idle fails furl'd on the yard, and oars, 
 Recumbent on the flood, and ftreamers gay 
 
 51. Hertford's grey towers ] In the beginning of the 
 Heptarchy, this town of Hertford was accounted one of 
 the principal cities of the Eaft Saxons, where the kings of 
 that province often kept their courts, and a parliamentary 
 council or national fynod was held Sept. 24th, 673. 
 
 Cbauncy's Hertford ft Ire, p. 237. 
 
 Tri-
 
 [ 9 ] 
 
 Triumphant fluttering on the pafllng winds. 
 
 In fear, the fhepherd on the lonely heath 
 
 Tended his fcanty flock ; the ploughman turn'd, 65 
 
 In fear, his hafty furrow : oft the din 
 
 Of hoftile arms alarm'd the ear, and flames 
 
 Of plunder'd towns thro* night's thick gloom from far 
 
 Gleam'd difmal on the fight : till Alfred came, 
 
 Till Alfred, father of his people, came, 70 
 
 Lee's rapid tide into new channels turn'd, 
 
 And left a-ground the Danian fleet, and forc'd 
 
 The foe to fpeedy flight. Then Freedom's voice 
 Reviv'd the drooping fwain ; then Plenty's hand 
 
 Recloath'd the defart fields, and Peace and Love 75 
 
 73. The foe to fpeedy flight. ] Towards the latter end 
 of the year 879, the Danes advanced to the borders of 
 Mercia, and ere&ed two forts at Hertford on the Lee, for 
 the fecurity of their ihips, which they had brought up that 
 river. Here they were attacked by the Londoners, who 
 v/ere repulfed. But Alfred advancing with his army, and 
 viewing the nature of their fituation, turned the courfe of 
 the ftream, fo that their veflels Were left en dry ground ; 
 a circumftance which terrified them to fuch a degree, that 
 they abandoned their forts, and flying towards the Severn, 
 were purfued by Alfred as far as Quatbridge. SmoUef* 
 Hijl. vf England, 8vo Edition, vol. i. p. 182. 
 
 B Sat
 
 Sat fmiling by ; as now they fmiling fit, 
 
 Obvious to Fancy's eye, upon the fide 
 
 Of yon bright Tunny theatre of hills, 
 
 Where Bengeifs villas rife, and Ware-Park lawns 
 
 Spread their green furface, interfpers'd with groves 80 
 
 Of broad umbrageous oak and fpiry pine, 
 
 Tall elm, and linden pale, and bloflbm'd thorn 
 
 Breathing mild fragrance, like the fpicy gales 
 
 Of Indian iflands. On the ample brow, 
 
 Where that white temple rears its pillar'd front 85 
 
 Half hid with glofly foliage, many a chief 
 
 Renown'd for martial deeds, and many a bard 
 
 Kenown'd for fong, have pafs'd the rural hour. 
 
 The gentle Fanjbaw there, from " noife of camps, 
 
 89. The gentle Fanjbaw. ] Sir Richard Fanjbaw, 
 tranflator of Guarini's Paftor Fido, the Lufiad of Camoens* 
 &c. He was fon of Sir Henry Fanfhaw of Ware-Park, 
 and is faid to have refided much there. He was ambaf- 
 fador to Portugal and afterwards to Spain, and died at 
 Madrid in 1666. His body was brought to England and 
 interred in Ware church, where his monument is ftill ex- 
 ifting. In Gibber's lives of the poets, it is erroneoufly af- 
 ferted that he was buried in All-Saints church Hertford 
 
 " From
 
 [ II ] 
 
 " From courts difeafe retir'd," delighted view'd 90 
 
 The gawdy garden fam'd in Wotton's page ; 
 
 Or in the verdant maze, or cool arcade, 
 
 Sat mufing, and from fmooth Italian drains 
 
 The foft Guarini's amorous lore transfus'd 
 
 Into rude Britijh verfe. . The warrior's arm 95 
 
 Now refts from toil ; the poet's tuneful tongue 
 
 In filence lies ; frail man his lov'd domains 
 
 Soon quits for ever ! they themfelves, by courfe 
 
 Of Nature often, or caprice of Art, 
 
 Experience change : even here, 'tis faid of old joo 
 
 Steep rocky cliffs rofe where yon gentle flopes 
 
 Mix with the vale ; and fluctuating waves 
 
 Spread wide, where that rich vale with golden flowers 
 
 Shines ; and where yonder winding chryftal rill 
 
 Slides thro' its fmooth morn margin, to the brink 105 
 
 90. The words marked with inverted commas are part 
 of a ttanza of Fanfhaw's. 
 
 91. Wotton's page ;] See Reliquiae Wottonians, where 
 the author makes a particular mention of the garden of Sir 
 Henry Faniliaw at Ware-Park, " as a delicate and dili- 
 gent curiofity," remarkable for the nice arrangement of its 
 flowers. 
 
 B 2 Of
 
 Of ChadweWs azure pool. From Chadwell' 's pool 
 
 To London's plains, the Cambrian artift brought 
 
 His ample aqueduft ; fuppos'd a work 
 
 Of matchlefs (kill, by thofe who ne'er had heard 
 
 How, from Frenejle's heights and Aria's banks, no 
 
 By Tivoli, to Rome's imperial walls, 
 
 On marble arches came the limpid ftore, 
 
 And out of jafper rocks in bright cafcades 
 
 With never ceafing murmur gufh'd j or how ? 
 
 To Lufttanian Ulyfsppo's towers, u* 
 
 The filver current o'er Alcantara's vale 
 
 Roll'd high in air, as ancient poets feign'd 
 
 Eridanus to roll thro' Heaven : to thefe 
 
 Not fordid lucre, but the honeft wifh 
 
 Of future fame, or care for public weal, 120 
 
 Exiftence gave ; and unconfin'd as dew 
 
 Falls from the hand of Evening on the fields, 
 
 They flow'd for all. Our mercenary ftream 
 
 108. His ample aqueduB ; ] The New River brought 
 from Chadwell, a fpring'in the meadows between Hert- 
 ford and Ware, by Sir Hugh Mlddleton, a native of Wales. 
 
 1 1 5. Ulyfeppo's towers^ The ancient name of Lifbon. 
 
 No
 
 [ 13 ] 
 
 No grandeur boafting, here obfcurely glides I2 
 
 O'er grafly lawns or under willow fhades j 
 
 As, thro' the human form, arterial tubes 
 
 Branch'd every way, minute and more minute, 
 
 The circulating fanguine fluid extend ; 
 
 So, pipes innumerable, to peopled ftreets 130 
 
 Tranfmit the purchas'd wave. Old Lee, meanwhile, 
 
 Beneath his mofly grot o'er-hung with boughs 
 
 Of poplar quivering in the breeze, furveys 
 
 With eye indignant his diminim'd tide 
 
 That laves yon antient priory's wall, and Ihows 135 
 
 In its clear rnirrour fare's inverted roofs. 
 
 Ware once was known to Fame ; to her fair fields 
 Whilom the Gothick tournament's proud pomp 
 
 134. With eye indignant his diminijh V tide} A confider- 
 able part of the new river water is derived from the Lee, 
 to the difadvantage of the navigation on that flream. 
 
 135. That laves yon antient priorfs wall, ] " About 
 << the i8th of Henry the III. Margaret Countefs of Lei- 
 " cefter, and lady of the manor, founded a priory for 
 *' friers in the north part of this town of Ware, anddedi- 
 " catcd the fame to St. Francis." Chauncfs Hertford- 
 fi'ire. 
 
 Brought
 
 I H ] 
 
 Brought Albiorfs valiant youth and blooming maids : 
 Pleas'd with ideas of the paft, the Mufe 140 
 
 Bids Fancy's pencil paint the fcene, where they 
 In gilded barges on the glafly {Iream 
 Circled the reedy ifles, the fportive dance 
 Along the fmooth lawn led, or in the groves 
 Wander'd converfmg, or reclin'd at eafe 145 
 
 To harmony of lutes and voices fweet 
 Refign'd the enchanted ear ; till fudden heard 
 The filver trumpet's animating found 
 Summon'd the champions forth ; en flately deeds 
 In fplendid armour clad, the ponderous lance j 50 
 With ftrenuous hand fuftaining, forth they came. 
 Where gay pavilions rofeupon the plain, 
 Or axure awnings ftretch'd from tree to tree 
 Mix'd with thick foliage, form'd a mimic (ky 
 Of grateful made ; (as oft in Agra's ftreets 155 
 
 The filken canopy from fide to fide 
 Extends to break the fun's impetuous ray, 
 While monarchs pafs beneath ;) there fat the Fair, 
 A glittering train on coftly carpets rang'd, 
 A group of beauties all in youthful prime, 160 
 
 Of
 
 Of various feature and of various grace ! 
 
 The penfive languim, and the fprightly air, 
 
 The engaging fmile, and all the namelefs charms 
 
 Which tranfient hope, or fear, or grief, or joy, 
 
 Wak'd in th' expreflive eye, th' enamour'd heart 165 
 
 Of each young hero rous'd to daring deeds. 
 
 Nor this aught ftrange, that thofe whom love infpirM 
 
 Prov'd ev'ry means the lovely Sex to pleafe ; 
 
 This ftrange, indeed, how cuftom thus could teach 
 
 The tender breaft complacence in the fight 1 70 
 
 Of barb'rous fport, where friend from hand of friend 
 
 The fatal wound full oft receiv'd, and fell 
 
 A victim to falfe glory ; as that day 
 
 Fell gallant Pembroke, while his pompous mow 
 
 Ended in filent gloom. One pitying tear 175 
 
 To human frailty paid ; my roving fight 
 
 Pur- 
 
 175. Ended in filent gloom. ] " In the 2$th of Henry 
 " III. on the 2yth of June, Gilbert Marfhall Earl of 
 " Pembroke, a potent Peer of the Realm, proclaimed here 
 " [at Ware] a difport of running on horfeback with lances, 
 " which was then called a tournament." Chauncy^s Hlft. 
 of Hertford/hire. 
 
 " At
 
 [ 16 ] 
 
 Purfues its pleafing courfe o'er neighb'ring hills, 
 
 Where frequent hedge-rows interfeft rich fields 
 
 Of many a different form and different hue, 
 
 Bright with ripe corn, or green with grafs, or dark 180 
 
 With clover's purple bloom ; o'er Widbury's mount 
 
 With that fair crefcent crown'd of lofty elms, 
 
 Its own peculiar boaft ; and o'er the woods 
 
 That round immure the deep fequefter'd dale 
 
 Of Langley, down whofe flow'r-embroider'd meads 
 
 Swift AJb thro' pebbly mores meandering rolls. 186 
 
 Elyfian fcenes ! as from the living world 
 
 " At this tournament, the faid Gilbert was (lain by a 
 *' fall from his horfe ; Robert de Say, one of his knights 
 " was killed, and feveral others wounded." Smollet's 
 Hijl. of England. 
 
 185. Of Langley, ] This delightful retreat, commonly 
 called Langley -Bottom, is fituated about half a mile from 
 Ware, and the fame diftance from Amwell. The fcene is 
 adapted to contemplation ; and poflefles fuch capabilities 
 of improvement, that the genius of aShenftone might eafi- 
 fy convert it to a fecond Leafowes. The tranfition from 
 this folitude to Widbury-Hiil, is made in a walk of a few 
 minutes, and the profpedt from that hill in a fine evening is 
 beautiful beyond defcription. 
 
 Secluded
 
 Secluded quite ; for of that world, to Him 
 
 Whofe wanderings trace thy winding length, appear 
 
 No mark, fave one white folitary fpire 190 
 
 At diftance rifing thro* the tufted trees 
 
 Elyfian fccne ! reclufe as that, fo fam'd .-.';"} 
 
 For folitude, by Warwick's antient walls, 
 
 Where under umbrage of the mofly cliff 
 
 Victorious Guy, fo legends fay, reclin'd 195 
 
 His hoary head befide the filver flream^ 
 
 In meditation rapt Elyfian fcene ! 
 
 At evening often, while the fetting fun 
 On the green fummit of thy eaftern groves 20d 
 
 Pour'd full his yellow radiance ; while the voice 
 Of Zephyr whifpering midft the ruftling leaves, 
 The found of water murmuring thro' the fedge, 
 The turtle's plaintive call, and mufic foft 
 Of diftant bells, whofe ever varying notes, 205 
 
 In flow fad meafure mov'd, combin'd to footh 
 The foul to fweet folemnity of thought ; 
 Beneath thy branchy bowers of thickeft gloom,. 
 Much on the imperfect ftate of Man I have mus'd : 
 How Pain o'er half his hours her iron reign 210 
 
 C Ruthlefs
 
 [ i8 J 
 
 Ruthlefs extends ; how Pleafure from the path 
 
 Of Innocence allures his fteps ; how Hope 
 
 Fixes his eye on future joy, that flies 
 
 His fond purfuit ; how Fear his fhuddering heart 
 
 Alarms with fancy'd ill ; how Doubt and Care 215 
 
 Perplex his thought ; how foon the tender rofe 
 
 Of Beauty fades, the fturdy oak of Strength 
 
 Declines on earth, and over all our pride 
 
 Stern Time triumphant ftands : from general fate 
 
 To private woes then oft has memory pafs'd 220 
 
 And mourn'd the lofs of many a friend belov'd ; 
 
 Of thee, De Home, kind, generous, wife and good ! 
 
 And thee, my Turner, who in vacant youth, 
 
 Here oft in converfe free, or ftudious fearch 
 
 Of claflic lore, accompanied my walk ! 225 
 
 From Ware's green bowers, to Devon's myrtle vales, 
 
 Remov'd a while, with profpecl: opening fair 
 
 Of ufeful life and honour in his view ; 
 
 As falls the vernal bloom before the breath 
 
 Of blafting Eurus, immature he fell ! 230 
 
 The tidings reach'd my ear, and in my breaft, 
 
 Aching
 
 Aching with recent wounds, new anguifli wak'd. 
 
 When melancholy thus has chang'd to grief, 
 
 That grief in foft forgetfulnefs to lofe, 
 
 1 have left the gloom for gayer fcenes, and fought 235 
 
 Thro* winding paths of venerable (hade, 
 
 The airy brow where that tall fpreading beech 
 
 O'er-tops furrounding groves, up rocky fteeps, 
 
 Tree over tree difpos'd ; orftretching far 
 
 Their fhadowy coverts down th' indented fide 240 
 
 Of fair corn fields ; or pierc'd with funny glades, 
 
 That yield the cafual glimpfe of flowery meads 
 
 And mining filver rills j on thefe the eye 
 
 Then wont to expatiate pleas'd ; or more remote 
 
 Survey'd yon vale of Lee, in verdant length 245 
 
 Of level lawn fpread out to Kent's blue hills, 
 
 And the proud range of glitt'ring fpires that rife 
 
 In mifty air on Thames' 1 s crouded mores. 
 
 How beautiful, how various is the view 
 Of thefe fweet paftoral landfcapes ! fair, perhaps, 250 
 As thofe renown'dof old, from Tabor's height, 
 OfCarmel fecn ; or thofe, the pride of Greece , 
 
 C 2 reme
 
 [ 20 -] 
 
 yempe or Arcady ; or thofe that grac'd 
 
 The banks of clear Elorus, or the fkirts 25$ 
 
 Of thymy Hybla, where Sicilians ifle 
 
 Smiles on the azure main ; there once was heard 
 
 The Mufe's lofty lay. How beautiful, 
 
 How various is yon view ! delicious hills 
 Bounding fmooth vales, fmooth vales by winding firearm 
 Divided, that here glide thro' grafly banks 260 
 
 In open fun, there wander under ihade 
 Of afpen tail, or antient elm, whofe boughs 
 O'erhang grey cailles, and romantic farms, 
 And humble cots of happy fhepherd fwains ; 265 
 
 Delightful habitations ! with the fong 
 Of birds melodious charm'd, and bleat of flocks 
 From upland paftures heard, and low of kine 
 Grazing the rufliy mead, and mingled founds 
 Of falling waters and of whifp'ring winds ; 279 
 
 Delightful habitations ! o'er the land 
 Difpers'd around, from Waltham's ofier'd ifles 
 To where bleak Naftng>s lonely tower o'erlooks 
 Her verdant fields ; from Raydori's pleafant groves 
 And Plun s den's bowers on 5/crfVirrJguous marge, 275 
 
 By
 
 [ 21 1 
 
 By Rhye^s old walls, to Hodfdoifs airy flreet ; 
 
 From Holy's woodland to the flowery meads 
 
 Of willow-fhadeed Stan/ted, and the flope 
 
 Of AnfMelPs Mount that crown'd with yellow corn 
 
 There from the green flat, foftly fwelling, mows 280 
 
 Like fome bright vernal cloud by Zephyr's breath 
 
 Juft rais'd above the horizon's azure bound. 
 
 As one long travell'd on Italians plains, 
 The land of pomp and beauty, (till his feet 
 On his own Albion joys to fix again ; 28 5 
 
 So my pleas'd eye, which o'er the profpe<5t wide 
 Has wander'd round, and various objects mark'd 
 On Amwell refts at laft, its favourite fcene ! 
 How picturefque the view! where up the fide 
 Of that fleep bank, her roofs of ruffet. thatch 290 
 Rife mix'd with trees, above thofe fwelling tops 
 Afcends the tall church tow'r, and loftier dill 
 The hill's extended ridge : how pi&urefque ! 
 Where flow beneath that bank the filverftream 
 Glides by the flowery ifle, and willow groves 295 
 Wave on its northern verge, with trembling tufts 
 
 Of
 
 [ 22 ] 
 
 Of ofier intermix'd. How pi&urefque 
 The (lender group of airy elm, the clump 
 Of pollard oak, or am, with ivy brown 
 Entwin'd; the walnut's gloomy breadth of boughs, 
 The orchard's antient fence of rugged pales, 300 
 
 The hay-ftack's dufky cone, the mofs-grown fhed, 
 The clay-built barn ; the elder -fhaded cot, 
 Whofe white-wam'd gable prominent thro' green 
 Of waving branches fhows, perchance infcrib'd 305 
 "With fome paft owner's name, or rudely grac'd 
 With ruftic dial, that fcarce ferves to mark 
 Time's ceafelefs flight ; the walls with mantling vine 3 
 O'erfpread,the porch with climbing woodbine wreath'd, 
 And under flickering eves the funny bench 310 
 
 Where brown hives range, whofe bufy tenants fill, 
 With drowfy hum, the little garden gay, 
 Whence blooming beans, and fpicy herbs, and flowers, 
 Exhale around a rich perfume ! Here refls 
 The empty wain ; there idle lies the plough : 315 
 By Summer's hand unharnefs'd, here the fteed 
 Short cafe enjoying, crops the daified lawn ; 
 Here bleats the nurfling lamb, the heifer there 
 
 Waits
 
 [ 23 ] 
 
 Waits at the yard-gate lowing. By the road 
 Where the neat ale-houfe ftands (fo once flood thine, 
 Deferted Auburn ! in immortal fong 321 
 
 Confign'd to Fame) the cottage fire recounts 
 The praife he earn'd, when crofs the field he drew 
 The ftraighteft furrow, neateft built the rick x 
 Or led the reaper band in iultry noons 325 
 
 With unabating ftrength, or won the prize 
 At many a crowded wake. Befide her door, 
 The cottage matron whirls her circling wheel, 
 And jocund chants her lay : the cottage maid 
 Feeds from her loaded lap her mingled train 330 
 
 Of clamorous hungry fowls ; or o'er the ftyle 
 Leaning with downcaft look, the artlefs tale 
 Of evening courtfhip hears : the fportive troop ' 
 Of cottage children on thegra'fly wade 
 Mix in rude gambols, or the bounding ball 335 
 
 Circle from hand to hand, or ruftic notes 
 Wake on their pipes of jointed reed : while near 
 
 322. Confign'd to Fame^ ] See the Deferted Village, 
 
 a beautiful poem, by the late Dr. Gokifmith. 
 
 The
 
 The careful fhepherd's frequent falling ftrokes 
 Fix on the fallow lea his hundred fold. 
 
 Such rural life ! fo calm, it little yields 340 
 
 Of interefling at, to fvvell the page 
 Of hiftory or fong ; yet much the foul 
 Its fweet fimplicity delights, and oft 
 From noife of bufy towns, to fields and groves, 
 The Mufe's fons have fled to find repofe. 345 
 
 Fam'd Walton, erft, the ingenious fiflier fwain, 
 Oft our fair haunts explor'd ; upon Lee's more, 
 Beneath fome green tree oft his angle laid, 
 His fport fufpending to admire their charms. 
 HE, who in verfe his country's ftory told, 350 
 
 Here 
 
 346. Fam'd Walton. ] Ifaac Walton, author of the 
 Complete Angler , an ingenious biographer, and no defpica- 
 ble poet. The fcene of his Anglers Dialogues, is the Vale 
 of Lee, between Tottenham and Ware; it feems to have 
 been a place he much frequented : he particularly menti- 
 ons Amwell-hill. 
 
 350. He, ivbo in <ve rfe bis country's /lory toldj] William 
 Warner, author of Albion's England, an Hiftorigal poem ; 
 
 art
 
 [ 25 ] 
 
 Here dwelt a while ; perchance here fketch'd the fcene 
 Where his fair Argentile, from crowded courts 
 
 For 
 
 anepifode of which, \ntil\ed Argentile andCuran, has been 
 frequently re-printed, and is much admired by the lovers 
 of old Englirti poetry. The ingenious Dr Percy t who has 
 inferted this piece in his Colleftion, obferves, that " though 
 " Warner's name is fo fel4om mentioned, his contempora- 
 " ries ranked him on a level with Spenfer, and called him 
 " the Homer and Virgil of their age ;" that " Warner was 
 " faid to have been a Warwickfhire man, and to have been 
 " educated at Magdalen Hall ; that, in the latter part of 
 " his life, he was retained in the fervice of Henry Gary, 
 " Lord Hunfdon, to whom he dedicates his poem but 
 " that more of his hiftory is not known." Mrs. Cooper, m 
 her Mufes Library , after highly applauding his poetry, 
 adds, " What were the circumftances and accidents of his 
 " life, we have hardly light enough to conjecture ; any 
 " more than, by his dedication, it appears he was in the 
 " fervice of the Lord Hunfdon, and acknowledges very 
 " gratefully both father and fon for his patrons and bene- 
 " faaors." By- the following extraft from the Pari/b Re- 
 gifter of Amwell, it may be reafonably concluded, that 
 Warner refided for fonie time at that village and as his 
 profeffion of an attorney is particularly mentioned, it is 
 pretty evident, that, whatever dependance he might have 
 on Lord Hunfdon, it could not be in the capacity of a 
 D menial
 
 [ 26 ] 
 
 For pride felf-banifh'd, in fequefter'd fliade 
 Sojourn'd difguis'd, and met the flighted youth 
 Who long had fought her love. The gentle bard 35$ 
 Sleeps here, by fame forgotten ; fickle Fame 
 Too oft forgets her favourites ! By his fide 
 Sleeps gentle Haffal, who with tendereft care 
 
 Here 
 
 menial fervant. Though Warner's merit, is a poet, may 
 have been too highly rated, it was really not inconfidera- 
 ble; his Argentile and Curan has many beauties; but it 
 has alfo the faults common to the compofitions of his age, 
 efpecially a moft difgufting indelicacy of fentiment and ex- 
 preffion. 
 
 " Ma. William Warner, a man of good yeares and bo- 
 " neft reputation, by his profeffion an Atturney at the 
 " Common Please, Author of Albion's England; dying 
 " foddenly in the night in his bedde, without any former 
 " complaynt or ficknefse, on Thurfday night beeing the 
 " Qth of March, was buried the Saturday following, and 
 " lieth in the church at the upper end, under the ftone of 
 " Gwalter Fader." 
 
 Parijb Regijler of Amwell, 1608-9. 
 
 358. Sleeps gentle Ha/a! , ] Thomas Ha/al, vicar of 
 Amwell j he kept the above mentioned Parifh Regifter with 
 uncommon care andprecifion, enriching it with many enter- 
 taining
 
 Here watch'd his village charge ; in nuptial bonds 
 Their hands oft joinM, oft heard, and oft reliev'd 360 
 Their little wants ; oft heard and oft compos'd, 
 Sole arbiter, their little broils ; oft urg'd 
 
 taining anecdotes of the parties regiftered. He performed 
 his duty in the moft hazardous circumftances, it appearing 
 that the plague twice raged in the village during his refi- 
 dence there ; in 1603 w ^ en 2 ^ perfons, and in 1625 when. 
 22 perfons died of it, and were buried in his church-yard. 
 The character here given of him , muft be allowed, ftridly 
 fpeaking, to be imaginary; but his compofition in the faid 
 regiiter appeared to me to breathe fuch a fpirit of piety, 
 fimplicity, and benevolence, that I almoft think myfelf 
 authorifed to afler't that it was his real one. He hianfelf is 
 regiftered by his fon Edmund HaiTal , as follow?: 
 
 " Thomas Haflal, Vicar of this parifh, where he had 
 " continued refident 57 years 7 months and 16 days, in 
 " the reigns of Queen Elizabeth, King James, and King 
 " Charles, departed his life September 24th, Thurfday, 
 <( and was buried September 26th, Saturday. His body 
 ' was laid in the chancel of this church under the priefts or 
 marble ftone. ./Etatis 84. Non erat ante, nee erif 
 " poft te fimilis. Edmund HaJ/~al." Regijler of Atmuell 
 1657. 
 
 Elifabeth Haflal, wife of the faid Thomas Haflal, died 
 about the fame time, aged 78 years 8 months, married 
 46 vears and 4 months. 
 
 D 2 Their
 
 [ 28 J 
 
 Their flight from Folly and from Vice : and oft 
 
 Dropt on their graves the tear, to early worth 
 
 Or antient friendfhip, due : in dangerous days, 365 
 
 When Death's fell Fury, pale-eyed Peftilence, 
 
 Glar'd horror round, his duty ftill difcharg'd 
 
 Unterrified, unhurt ; and here, at length, 
 
 Clos'd his calm inoffenfive ufeful life 
 
 In venerable age : her life with him 370 
 
 His faithful confort clos'd ; on earth's cold breaft 
 
 Both funk to reft together. On the turf, 
 
 Whence Time's rude grafp has torn their ruftick tombs, 
 I ftrew frefh flowers, and make a moment's paufe 
 Of folemn thought ; then feek th' adjacent fpot, 375 
 From which, thro' thefe broad lindens' verdant arch, 
 The fteeple's Gothic wall and window dim 
 In perfpe&ive appear ; then homeward turn 
 By where the Mufe, enamour'd of our fhades, 
 Deigns ftill her favouring prefence ; where my friend, 
 The Britijh Taffo, oft from bufy fcenes 38 1 
 
 To rural calm and ietter'd eafe retires. 
 
 381. The BriiiJJj Ta/o t ~\ Mr. Hoole, tranflator of 
 
 Tzflb's Jerufalem Delivered. 
 
 As
 
 As fome fond Lover leaves his favourite nymph, 
 Oft looking back, and lingering in her view, 
 So now reluctant this retreat I leave, 385 
 
 Look after look indulging ; on the right, < 
 
 Up to yon airy battlements' broad top 
 Half veil'd with trees, that, from th'- acclivious fteep, 
 Jut like the pendant gardens, fam'd of old, 
 Befide Euphrates' 1 bank ; then, on the left, 390 
 
 Down to thofe fhaded cots, and bright expanfe 
 Of water foftly fliding by : once, where 
 That bright expanfe of water foftly {Tides, 
 O'erhung withfhrubs that fring'd the chalky rock, 
 A little 'fount forth pour'd its gurgling rill, 395 
 
 In flinty channel trickling o'er the green, 
 From Emma nam'd ; perhaps fome fainted maid, 
 For holy life rever'd ; to fuch, e'erwhile, 
 Fond Superftition many a pleafant grove, 
 And limpid fpring, was wont to confecrate. 400 
 
 Of Emma's ftory nought Tradition fpeaks ; 
 Conjecture, who, behind Oblivion's veil, 
 Along the doubtful pad delights to ftray, 
 Beads now, indeed, that from her well the place 
 
 Received
 
 [ 30 ] 
 
 Receiv'd its appellation. ^Thou fweet Vill, 405 
 
 Farewell ! and ye fweet fields, where plenty's horn 
 
 Pours liberal boons, and Health propitious deigns 
 
 Her chearful fmile ! you not the parching air 
 
 Of arid fands, you not the vapours chill 
 
 Of humid fens annoy ; Favonius* wing, 410 
 
 From off your thyme-banks and your trefoil meads 
 
 Wafts balmy redolence ; robuft and gay, 
 
 Your fwains induftrious iflue to their toil, 
 
 Till your rich glebe, or in your granaries ftore 
 
 Its generous produce: annual ye refound 415 
 
 The ploughman's fong, as he thro' reeking foil 
 
 Guides flow his mining mare ; ye annual hear 
 
 The fhouts of harveft, and the prattling train 
 
 Of chearful gleaners : and th' alternate ftrokes 
 
 Of loud flails echoing from your loaded barns, 420 
 
 405. Received its appellation. ] In Doomfday-book, 
 this village of Amwell is written Emmevelle, perhaps ori- 
 ginally Emma's well. When the New River was opened, 
 there was a fpring here which was.taken into that aqueduft. 
 Chadwell, the other fource of that River, evidently re- 
 ceived its denomination from a tutelar Saint, St. Chad, 
 who feems to have given name to fprings and wells in dif- 
 ferent parts of England. 
 
 The
 
 The pallid Morn in dark November wake. 
 
 But, happy as ye are, in marks of wealth 
 
 And population ; not for thefe, or aught 
 
 Befide^ wifti I in hyperbolic ftrains 
 
 Of vain applaufe to elevate your frame 425 
 
 Above all other fcenes ; for fcenes as fair 
 
 Have charm'd my fight, but tranfient was the view : 
 
 You, thro' all feafbns, in each varied hour 
 
 For obfervation happiefl, oft my fteps 
 
 Have travers'd o'er ; oft Fancy's eyehas feen 430 
 
 Gay fpring trip lightly on your lovely lawns, 
 
 To wake frefh, flowers at morn ; and Summer fpread 
 
 His liftlefs limbs, at noontide, on the marge 
 
 Of fmooth tranflucent pools, where willows green 
 
 Gave made, and breezes from the wild mint's bloom 
 
 Brought odour exquifite ; oft Fancy's ear, 436 
 
 Deep in the gloom of evening woods, has heard 
 
 The laft fad figh of Autumn, when his throne 
 
 To winter he refign'd; oft Fancy's thought, 
 
 In extafy , where from the golden eaft, 
 
 Or dazzling fouth, or crimfon weft, the fun 440 
 
 A different luftre o'er the landfcape threw, 
 
 Some
 
 Some Paradife has form'd, the blifsfulfeat 
 
 Of Innocence and Beauty ! while I wifh'd 
 
 The fkill of Claude, or Rubens, or of Him, 445 
 
 Whom now on Lavant's banks, in groves that breathe 
 
 Enthufiafm fublime, the fifter Nymphs 
 
 Infpire ; that, to the idea fair, my hand 
 
 Might permanence have lent ! Attachment ftrong 
 
 Springs from delight beftow'd ; to me delight 450 
 
 Long ye have given, and I have given you praife! 
 
 448. Infpire- ] Mr. Ge orge Smith of Cbichejler, ajuft- 
 Iy celebrated Landfcape Painter, and alfo a poet. Lavant 
 is the name of the river at Chichefter, which city gave birth 
 to the fublime Collins. 
 
 447. Sijler Nymphs] Painting and Poetry. 
 F -I N I S.
 
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