THEFAMILYNAME

thefamilyname

whatreasonfirstimposedthee,gentlename,

namethatmyfatherbore,andhissire'ssire,

withoutreproach?wetraceourstreamnohigher;

andi,achildlessman,mayendthesame.

perchancesomeshepherdonlincolnianplains,

inmannersguilelessashisownsweetflocks,

receivedthefirstamidthemerrymocks

andarchallusionsofhisfellowswains.

perchancefromsalem'sholierfieldsreturned,

withglorygottenontheheadsabhorr'd

offaithlesssaracens,somemartiallord

tookhismeektitle,inwhosezealheburn'd.

whate'erthefountwhencethybeginningscame,

nodeedofmineshallshamethee,gentlename.