AN Ancient Maiden, standing on the edge of a wharf near a Modern Swain, was overheard rehearsing the words:

A FARMER of the Augustan age Perused in Virgil's golden page, The story of the secret won From Proteus by Cyrene's son How the dank sea-god sowed the swain Means to restore his hives again More briefly, how a slaughtered bull Breeds honey by the bellyful.

"Yes," she said, "you have guessed the truth; that suitor and amorous swain, Jacob, did not come on my account."

Awaken therefore that gentle passion in every swain: for lo!

Tell us I intreat you what is become of him?" "Yes, cold and insensible Nymph, (replied I) that luckless swain your Brother, is no more, and you may now glory in being the Heiress of Sir Edward's fortune."

And, in spite of his absurd position as Liza's lovesick swain at his age, you ought to see how he carries off the absurd position.

The faithful Seesaw had called at the side door of the brick house on the evening before his departure, and when Rebecca answered his knock, stammered solemnly, "Can I k-keep comp'ny with you when you g-g-row up?" "Certainly NOT," replied Rebecca, closing the door somewhat too speedily upon her precocious swain.

Beneath the stone before your eyes The body of a lover lies; In life he was a shepherd swain, In death a victim to disdain.

If the truth must be told, I did not like his best things at first, but long remained chiefly attached to his rubbishing pastorals, which I was perpetually imitating, with a whole apparatus of swains and shepherdesses, purling brooks, enamelled meads, rolling years, and the like.

Village swains rang the joy-bells (and got drunk on their money the same evening).

Then do the swains appear with tea, with lemonade, with sandwiches, with homage.

Thenceforth sweet Cecily kept the noiseless tenor of her way unvexed by the attentions of enamoured swains.