I. I, 7, pp

Ashton 10

A ruddy flash that in a moment dyes.

Offgoes the Gun, and through the Forrest rings

The thundring bullet, born on iiery wings.

Hère, on a green, two Striplings, stripped light,

Run for a prize with laboursom delight ;

A dusty Cloud about their feet doth flowe

(Their feet, and head, and hands, and ail do goe)

Tbey swelt in sweat ; and yet the foUowing Rout

Hastens their haste with many a cheerfull shout.

Hère, six pyed Oxen, under painfull yoak,

Rip up the folds of Ceres Winter Gloak.

Hère in the shade^ a pretty Shepherdess

Drives softly home her bleating happiness :

Still as she goes. she spins ; and as she spins,

A man would think some Sonnets she begins,

Hère runs a River, there springs forth a Fountain,

Hère vales a Valley, there ascends a mountain,

Hère smokes a Gastle, there a City fumes.

And hère a Ship upon the Océan looms » (i).

Nous ne pouvons achever ce parallèle sans citer les quelques vers dans lesquels M. G. Saintsbury discerne déjà la note poétique de Victor Hugo (2).

« Vn iour, de comble-en-fons, les rochers crouleront, Les monts plus sourcilleux, de peur se dissoudront : Le Giel se creuera : les plus basses campagnes Boursouflées croîtront en superbes montagnes : Les fleuues tariront, et si dans quelque étang Reste encor quelque flot, ce ne sera que sang : La mer deuiendra flame : et les seiches Balenes, Horribles mugleront sur les cuites arènes :