he had a favour to request, which, he trusted, his serene highness would not take amiss, but grant him. "Why not," was the reply, "provided nothing particular be in the way." The landlord then told his illustrious visitor, that he had long been dissatisfied with his present sign, alledging that it was too vulgar, considering the number of gentry that visited his house: he therefore thought, that if permission was given him to hang up a portrait of his serene highness, in the place of the Grey Ass, it could not fail to be a still greater inducement to companies repairing to his tavern, which, by the way, had always enjoyed a pre-eminence over that of his neighbour. The prince gave his assent, and the painter was immediately sent for, who, in a great hurry, finished the so much desired sign, at the bottom of which was written, in large golden letters, Prince Charles of Hesse. The other landlord, a fellow, it should seem, of some acuteness of discernment, was struck with the idea that there was now, perhaps, a fine opportunity for him to raise the fame of his house, by transforming the Black Cow into the Grey Ass-thinking, as he very justly did, that he should thereby at least attract a great many guests that otherwise intended to go to his rival, the fame of whose house, known by the sign of the Grey Ass, was spread far and wide: nor was he in the wrong, for the thing took, and succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations. Our other hero, sadly disappointed and chagrined, saw too late into the inconsistency of his conduct. Out of revenge, and, as it were, to make good the injury he had thus evidently brought upon himself, he ordered down the new sign, and, as a necessary explanation, previous to its being replaced, caused to be written over the head of the field-marshalThis is the real Grey Ass." THE REFLECTOR. [No. LIV.] ALFRED, AN EPIC POEM BY JOSEPH COTTLE. Ah! who can tell the pangs which ALFRED felt, Whilst wandering slow o'er wilds and desert wastes, Joyless and pondering on the weight of ills That now o'erwhelm'd him! What his mind endur'd Plann'd for their good and nurs'd luxurious thoughts IN COTTLE. N the fourth book of this excellent Poem, ALFRED proceeds to the Isle of Ethelney-his adventures on the way thither and his reception there, are replete with entertainment. The king mused on his low estate, and it very properly gave rise to the following just reflections: "Whence came the monster Pride? His heart immersed will never stoop to mourn Capacities and pleasures pure and high For transitory guides and teach the worth The king passing along, found the corpse of poor old Nidor with whom he had benevolently divided his loaf-he had been murdered--this spectacle therefore excited the most melancholy sensations. Failing to find an habitation where he might rest his weary limbs-Alfred lay down by the side of a brook till the morning came, when he prosecuted his journey. By and by he entered a cottage, where he was roughly addressed by the Neatherd's wife, who put him to watch her cakes which were then baking-he however forgetting his employ, burnt them! She was extremely angry, and for some time would not be pacified. The story is so well known that it need not be here introduced. At this critical moment the neatherd himself arrives, who announces the destruction of Glastonbury abbey!! He then pathetically addresses his spouse My wife! It is a bitter time for thee and me, But what are our dismays compared with his, "At these words I feel Replied the neatherd. "Nothing have I learnt," "Heartless now he roams With a few faithful followers 'mid woods And secret coombs, and in the holes of rocks, The nobler Danes." "Now it is time to rest," And tho' we fail to sleep 'tis well to court Little did the good woman imagine that her monarch, of whom she spoke so affectionately, and to whom she behaved so roughly, was at that moment her guest! His sentiments and feelings are happily pourtrayed during his retirement to rest that evening-the paragragh closes the book But ALFRED's eye No slumber visited. He watch'd the moon A master's sway-ruling, his passive mind. Toss'd on the hostile spear whose piercing cries The incense of their crimes hath steam'd to heaven Fell on him, and his dreams were mix'd with blood! The fifth book contains much interesting matterfor Sigbert in search of Alfred reaches the cottage with a child found on a neighbouring heath by the side of a murder'd monk! The king perceives the child to be his own by which his rnind is deeply agitated. Sigbert up braided joining to oppose the Danese monarch for not ALFRED then discovers himself to Sigbert-dismisses him to gain tidings of the fate of Alswitha-sends the neatherd on a mission to Kenwith caftle, and after entrusting his child with Acca departs to join his troops in Selwood Foreft. The book concludes in the following animated manner the sentiment is good-and the language expressive-the king exclaims: I now must go 'mid other scenes and strifes Their hands to serve him. He has lost a friend Silent he stood A few short moments pondering-then again : ACCA replied Well shall my care repay thy confidence! Both when he sleeps and wakes; and when thou |