Such as bound in magic spell Him* who grasp'd the gates of Hell, And bursting Pluto's dark domain, Held to the day the terrors of his reign. Genius of Horror and romantic awe, Whose eye explores the secrets of the deep, Who shall now thy wand inherit, Mighty magician! long thy wand has lain He throws thy dark-wrought tunic on, eyes, Him didst thou cradle on the dizzy steep Where round his head the volley'd lightnings flung, And the loud winds that round his pillow rung, Wooed the stern infant to the arms of sleep. * Dante. + Ibid. Or on the highest top of Teneriffe Seated the fearless boy, and bade him look Where far below the weather-beaten skiff On the gulf bottom of the ocean strook. Thou mark'dst him drink with ruthless ear The death-sob, and, disdaining rest, Thou saw'st how danger fired his breast, And in his young hand couch'd the visionary spear. Then, Superstition, at thy call, She bore the boy to Odin's Hall, And set before his awe-struck sight While fierce Hresvelger flapp'd his wing; Which on the mists of evening gleam, Where sleeps the silent beam of night, Taste lastly comes and smoothes the whole, The Poet dreams :-' -The shadow flies, ODE, ADDRESSED TO THE EARL OF CARLISLE, K. G. RETIRED, remote from human noise, A humble Poet dwelt serene; His lot was lowly, yet his joys He laid him by the brawling brook He watch'd the swallow skimming round, And mused, in reverie profound, On wayward man's unhappy state, And ponder'd much, and paused on deeds of ancient date. II. 1. "Oh, 'twas not always thus," he cried, "There was a time, when Genius claimed Respect from even towering Pride, Nor hung her head ashamed: But now to Wealth alone we bow, The titled and the rich alone Are honour'd, while meek Merit pines, On Penury's wretched couch reclines, Unheeded in his dying moan, As overwhelm'd with want and wo, he sinks unknown. III. 1. "Yet was the muse not always seen In Poverty's dejected mien, Not always did repining rue, And misery her steps pursue. Time was, when nobles thought their titles graced, When Sheffield joined the harmonious throng, Their brows with anadems, by genius won, But arrogantly deem the muse as base; How different thought the sires of this degenerate race!" I. 2. Thus sang the minstrel :-still at eve And still his shame was aye the same, And muse on all his sorrows o'er, And vow that he would join the abjured world no more. II. 2. But human vows, how frail they be ! The Augustan age anew. Fill'd with wild rapture, up he rose, III. 2. Ah! silly man, yet smarting sore, With ills which in the world he bore, |