Where down the plain the winding pathway falls
From Glenfield Vill to Lesters ancient walls,
Nature or Art with imitative power,
Far in the glenn has placed Black Annis Bower.

An oak, the pride of all the mossy dell,
Spread its broad arms above the stony cell;
And many a bush, with hostile thorns arrayed,
Forbids the secret cavern to invade;
Whilst delving vales each way meander round,
And violet banks with redolence abound.

Here, if the uncouth song of former days
Soil not the page with Falsehoods artful lays,
Black Annis held her solitary reign,
The dread and wonder of the neighbouring plain.
The shepherd grieved to view his waning flock,
And traced his firstlings to the gloomy rock.
No vagrant children culled (the) flowrets then,
For infant blood oft stained the gory den.

Not Spartas mount, for infant tears renownd,
Echod more frequently the piteous sound.
Oft the gaunt Maid the frantic Mother cursd,
Whom Britains wolf with savage nipple nursd;
Whom Lesters sons beheld, aghast the scene,
Nor dared to meet the Monster of the Green.

Tis said the soul of mortal man recoild,
To view Black Annis eye, so fierce and wild;
Vast talons, foul with human flesh, there grew
In place of hands, and features livid blue
Glard in her visage; while the obscene waist
Warm skins of human victims close embraced.

But Time, than Man more certain, tho more slow,
At length gainst Annis drew his sable bow;
The great decree the pious shepherds blessd,
And general joy the general fear confessd.
Not without terror they the cave survey,
Where hung the monstrous trophies of her sway:
Tis said, that in the rock large rooms were found,
Scoopd with her claws beneath the flinty ground;
In these the swains her hated body threw,
But left the entrance still to future view,
That childrens children might the tale rehearse,
And bards record it in their tuneful verse.

But in these listless days, the idle bard
Gives to the wind all themes of cold regard;
Forgive, then, if in rough, unpolished song,
An unskilled swain the dying tale prolong.

And you, ye Fair, whom Natures scenes delight,
If Annis Bower your vagrant steps invite,
Ere the bright sun Auroras car succeed,
Or dewy evening quench the thirsty mead,
Forbear with chilling censures to refuse
Some genrous tribute to the rustic muse.
A violet or common daisy throw,
Such gifts as Maros lovely nymphs bestow;
Then shall your Bard survive the critics frown,
And in your smiles enjoy his best renown.