Or dwell in willow'd meads more near, The perfect spell shall then avail, ANTISTROPHE. a Beyond the measure vast of thought, 60 65 70 The Dutch, amongst whom there are very severe penalties for those who are convicted of killing this bird. They are kept tame in almost all their towns, and particularly at the Hague, of the arms of which they make a part. The common people of Holland are said to entertain a superstitious sentiment, that if the whole species of them should become extinct, they should lose their liberties. $ Queen Elizabeth. t This tradition is mentioned by several of our old historians. Some naturalists too have endeavoured to support the probability of the fact by arguments drawn from the correspondent disposition of the two opposite coasts. I do not remember that any poetical use has been hitherto made of it. Where Orcas howls, his wolfish mountains round ing; t Till all the banded west at once 'gan rise, √ A wide wild storm even nature's self confounding, Withering her giant sons with strange uncouth surprise. This pillar'd earth so firm and wide, By winds and inward labours torn, In thunders dread was push'd aside,^ And down the shouldering billows borne And see, like gems, her laughing train, The little isles on every side, 75 80 Mona," once hid from those who search the main, Where thousand elfin shapes abide, And Wight who checks the westering tide, For thee consenting heaven has each bestow'd, 85 A fair attendant on her sovereign pride: To thee this blest divorce she owed, For thou hast made her vales thy loved, thy last abode! u There is a tradition in the Isle of Man, that a mermaid becoming enamoured of a young man of extraordinary beauty took an opportunity of meeting him one day as he walked on the shore, and opened her passion to him, but was received with a coldness, occasioned by his horror and surprise at her appearance. This, however, was so misconstrued by the sea lady, that in revenge for his treatment of her, she punished the whole island, by covering it with a mist; so that all who attempted to carry on any commerce with it, either never arrived at it, but wandered up and down the sea, or were on a sudden wrecked upon its cliffs. SECOND EPODE. Then too, 'tis said, an hoary pile, Which guide at once, and charm the Muse, Paving the light embroider'd sky, Amidst the bright pavilion'd plains, 105 110 115 What hands unknown that fabric raised? Even now before his favour'd eyes, Ye forms divine, ye laureat band, Rage drops his steel, and storms grow calm: Her let our sires and matrons hoar 120 125 130 135 140 ODE TO A LADY, ON THE DEATH OF COLONEL ROSS, IN THE ACTION OF FONTENOY. Written in May 1745. WHILE, lost to all his former mirth, And mourns the fatal day: While stain'd with blood he strives to tear The wreaths of cheerful May: The thoughts which musing Pity pays, Still Fancy, to herself unkind, And points the bleeding friend. By rapid Scheld's descending wave 5 10 VARIATION. Ver. 4. While sunk in grief he strives to tear |