The holy man, when not employed

At prayers or meals, to work enjoyed

With anvil, forge, and sledge

These he provided in his cell

With saintly furniture as well;

So chroniclers allege

The peaceful mattock, ploughshare, spade

Sickle, and pruning-hook he made

Eschewing martial labours

Thus bees will rather honey bring

Than hurtfully employ their sting

In warfare for their neighbours

A cheerful saint too, oft would he

Mellow old Time with minstrelsy,—

But such as gave no scandal;

Than his was never harp more famed;

For Dunstan was the blacksmith named

Harmonious by Handel

And when with tuneful voice he sang

His well-strung harp's melodious twang

Accompaniment lending;

So sweetly wedded were the twain

The chords flowed mingled with the strain

Mellifluently blending

Now 'tis well known mankind's great foe

Oft lurks and wanders to and fro

In bailiwicks and shires;

Scattering broad-cast his mischief-seeds

Planting the germs of wicked deeds

Choking fair shoots with poisonous weeds

Till goodness nigh expires

Well, so it chanced, this tramping vagrant

Intent on villanies most flagrant

Ranged by Saint Dunstan's gate;

And hearing music so delicious

Like hooded snake, his spleen malicious

Swelled up with envious hate

Thought Nick, I'll make his harp a fool;

I'll push him from his music-stool;

Then, skulking near the saint

The vilest jars Nick loudly sounded

Of brayings, neighings, screams compounded;

How the musician's ears were wounded

Not Hogarth e'en could paint

The devil fancied it rare fun

"Well! don't you like my second, Dun?

Two parts sound better sure than one,"

Said he, with queer grimace:

"Come sing away, indeed you shall;

Strike up a spicy madrigal

And hear me do the bass."

This chaffing Dunstan could not brook

His clenched fist, his crabbed look

Betrayed his irritation

'Twas nuts for Nick's derisive jaw

Who fairly chuckled when he saw

The placid saint's vexation

"Au revoir, friend, adieu till noon;

Just now you are rather out of tune

Your visage is too sharp;

Your ear perhaps a trifle flat: