Now are employ’d, and foreign timber is now all the fashion. 
I should be only too pleased to possess some novelty also,
So as to march with the times, and my household furniture alter. 
But we all are afraid to make the least alteration,
For who is able to pay the present charges of workmen? 
Lately a fancy possess’d me, the angel Michael, whose figure
Hangs up over my shop, to treat to a new coat of gilding,
And the terrible Dragon, who round his feet is entwining;
But I have left him all brown; as he is; for the cost quite alarm’d me.”
-----
IV.  Euterpe.

Mother and son.

Thus the men discoursed together; and meanwhile the mother
Went in search of her son,—­at first in front of the dwelling
On the bench of stone, for he was accustom’d to sit there. 
When she found him not there, she went to look in the stable,
Thinking perchance he was feeding his splendid horses, the stallions
Which he had bought when foals, and which he entrusted to no one. 
But the servant inform’d her that he had gone to the garden. 
Then she nimbly strode across the long double courtyard,
Left the stables behind, and the barns all made of good timber,
Enter’d the garden which stretch’d far away to the walls of the borough,
Walk’d across it, rejoicing to see how all things were growing,
Carefully straighten’d the props, on which the apple-tree’s branches,
Heavily loaded, reposed, and the weighty boughs of the pear-tree,
Took a few caterpillars from off the strong-sprouting cabbage;
For a bustling woman is never idle one moment. 
In this manner she came to the end of the long-reaching garden,
Where was the arbour all cover’d with woodbine:  she found not her son there,
Nor was he to be seen in any part of the garden. 
But she found on the latch the door which out of the arbour
Through the wall of the town had been made by special permission
During their ancestor’s time, the worthy old burgomaster. 
So she easily stepp’d across the dry ditch at the spot where
On the highway abutted their well-inclosed excellent vineyard. 
Rising steeply upwards, its face tow’rd the sun turn’d directly. 
Up the hill she proceeded, rejoicing, as farther she mounted,
At the size of the grapes, which scarcely were hid by the foliage. 
Shady and well-cover’d in, the middle walk at the top was,
Which was ascended by steps of rough flat pieces constructed. 
And within it were hanging fine chasselas and muscatels also,
And a reddish-blue grape, of quite an exceptional bigness,
All with carefulness planted, to give to their guests after dinner. 
But with separate stems the rest of the vineyard was planted,
Smaller grapes producing, from which the finest wine made is. 
So she constantly mounted, enjoying in prospect the autumn. 
And the festal day, when the neighbourhood met with