Page:Nollekens and His Times, Volume 2.djvu/476

He show'd me lilies for my hair,
⁠And blushing roses for my brow;
He led me through his gardens fair.
⁠Where all his golden pleasures grow.

With sweet May-dews my wings were wet,
⁠And Phœbus fired my vocal rage;
He caught me in his silken net.
⁠And shut me in his golden cage.

He loves to sit and hear me sing
⁠Then, laughing, sports and plays with me;
Then stretches out my golden wing,
⁠And mocks my loss of liberty"

But it happened, unfortunately, soon after this period, that in consequence of his unbending deportment, or what his adherents are pleased to call his manly firmness of opinion, which certainly was not at all times considered pleasing by every one, his visits were not so frequent. He however continued to benefit by Mrs. Mathew's liberality, and was enabled to continue in partnership, as a Printseller, with his fellow-pupil, Parker, in a shop, No. 27, next door to his father's, in Broad-street; and being extremely partial to Robert, his youngest brother, considered him as his pupil. Bob, as he was familiarly called, was one of my playfellows, and much beloved by all his companions.

Much about this time, Blake wrote many