s: To view the huge design which sprung from such a birth!


s: But lo! the Dome--the vast and wondrous Dome,[pj]


s: Christ's mighty shrine above His martyr's tomb![pk]


s: Its columns strew the wilderness, and dwell


s: The hyæna and the jackal in their shade;


s: I have beheld Sophia's bright roofs swell[pl]


s: Their glittering mass i' the Sun, and have surveyed[pm]


s: Its sanctuary the while the usurping Moslem prayed;


s: But thou, of temples old, or altars new,


s: Standest alone--with nothing like to thee--


s: Of earthly structures, in His honour piled,


s: Power--Glory--Strength--and Beauty all are aisled


s: In this eternal Ark of worship undefiled.


s: Enter: its grandeur overwhelms thee not;


s: And why? it is not lessened--but thy mind,


s: Shalt one day, if found worthy, so defined


s: See thy God face to face, as thou dost now


s: His Holy of Holies--nor be blasted by his brow.[pn]


s: Thou movest--but increasing with the advance,


s: Like climbing some great Alp, which still doth rise,


s: Vastness which grows, but grows to harmonize--[po]


s: Rich marbles, richer painting--shrines where flame[pp]


s: The lamps of gold--and haughty dome which vies


s: In air with Earth's chief structures, though their frame


s: Sits on the firm-set ground--and this the clouds must claim.


s: Thou seest not all--but piecemeal thou must break,


s: To separate contemplation, the great whole;


s: That ask the eye--so here condense thy soul


s: Thy thoughts until thy mind hath got by heart


s: Its eloquent proportions, and unroll[pq]


s: The Glory which at once upon thee did not dart,


s: Not by its fault--but thine: Our outward sense[pr]


s: That what we have of feeling most intense


s: Outstrips our faint expression; even so this


s: Fools our fond gaze, and greatest of the great


s: Defies at first our Nature's littleness,


s: Till, growing with its growth, we thus dilate


s: Our Spirits to the size of that they contemplate.


s: Then pause, and be enlightened; there is more


s: Of wonder pleased, or awe which would adore


s: The worship of the place, or the mere praise


s: Of Art and its great Masters, who could raise


s: What former time, nor skill, nor thought could plan:[ps]


s: Its depth, and thence may draw the mind of Man[pt]


s: Its golden sands, and learn what great Conceptions can.[pu]


s: With an Immortal's patience blending:--Vain


s: The struggle--vain, against the coiling strain


s: And gripe, and deepening of the dragon's grasp,


s: The Old Man's clench; the long envenomed chain[pv]


s: Rivets the living links,--the enormous Asp


s: Enforces pang on pang, and stifles gasp on gasp.[pw]


s: The Sun in human limbs arrayed, and brow


s: All radiant from his triumph in the fight;


s: The shaft hath just been shot--the arrow bright


s: With an Immortal's vengeance--in his eye


s: And nostril beautiful Disdain, and Might


s: And Majesty, flash their full lightnings by,


s: Developing in that one glance the Deity.


s: But in his delicate form--a dream of Love,


s: Shaped by some solitary Nymph, whose breast


s: Longed for a deathless lover from above,


s: And maddened in that vision--are exprest


s: The mind with in its most unearthly mood,


s: When each Conception was a heavenly Guest--


s: Starlike, around, until they gathered to a God![px]


s: And if it be Prometheus stole from Heaven


s: By human hands, is not of human thought--


s: And Time himself hath hallowed it, nor laid


s: One ringlet in the dust--nor hath it caught


s: But where is he, the Pilgrim of my Song,


s: The Being who upheld it through the past?


s: Methinks he cometh late and tarries long.


s: He is no more--these breathings are his last--


s: His wanderings done--his visions ebbing fast,


s: Aught but a phantasy, and could be classed


s: With forms which live and suffer--let that pass--


s: His shadow fades away into Destruction's mass,[py]


s: Which gathers shadow--substance--life, and all


s: Through which all things grow phantoms; and the cloud


s: Between us sinks and all which ever glowed,


s: Till Glory's self is twilight, and displays


s: Sadder than saddest night, for they distract the gaze,


s: To gather what we shall be when the frame


s: Shall be resolved to something less than this--


s: Its wretched essence; and to dream of fame,


s: And wipe the dust from off the idle name


s: We never more shall hear,--but never more,


s: Oh, happier thought! can we be made the same:--


s: It is enough in sooth that _once_ we bore


s: These fardels of the heart--the heart whose sweat was gore.


s: Hark! forth from the abyss a voice proceeds,


s: A long low distant murmur of dread sound,


s: Through storm and darkness yawns the rending ground--


s: The gulf is thick with phantoms, but the Chief


s: Seems royal still, though with her head discrowned,


s: And pale, but lovely, with maternal grief--


s: She clasps a babe, to whom her breast yields no relief.


s: Scion of Chiefs and Monarchs, where art thou?


s: Fond Hope of many nations, art thou dead?


s: Could not the Grave forget thee, and lay low


s: In the sad midnight, while thy heart still bled,


s: Death hushed that pang for ever: with thee fled


s: Which filled the Imperial Isles so full it seemed to cloy.


s: Peasants bring forth in safety.--Can it be,


s: Those who weep not for Kings shall weep for thee,


s: And Freedom's heart, grown heavy, cease to hoard


s: Her many griefs for _One_; for she had poured


s: Her orisons for thee, and o'er thy head[pz]


s: Beheld her Iris.--Thou, too, lonely Lord,


s: And desolate Consort--vainly wert thou wed!


s: The husband of a year! the father of the dead!


s: Of sackcloth was thy wedding garment made;


s: Thy bridal's fruit is ashes: in the dust


s: The fair-haired Daughter of the Isles is laid,


s: The love of millions! How we did entrust


s: Darken above our bones, yet fondly deemed


s: Our children should obey her child, and blessed


s: Her and her hoped-for seed, whose promise seemed


s: Like stars to shepherd's eyes:--'twas but a meteor beamed.


s: Woe unto us--not her--for she sleeps well:


s: The fickle reek of popular breath, the tongue


s: Which from the birth of Monarchy hath rung


s: Its knell in princely ears, till the o'erstung


s: Nations have armed in madness--the strange fate


s: Which tumbles mightiest sovereigns, and hath flung


s: Against their blind omnipotence a weight


s: Within the opposing scale, which crushes soon or late,--[qa]


s: These might have been her destiny--but no--


s: Our hearts deny it: and so young, so fair,


s: Good without effort, great without a foe;


s: But now a Bride and Mother--and now _there!_


s: How many ties did that stern moment tear!


s: From thy Sire's to his humblest subject's breast


s: Is linked the electric chain of that despair,


s: Whose shock was as an Earthquake's, and opprest


s: The land which loved thee so that none could love thee best.


s: So far, that the uprooting Wind which tears


s: The oak from his foundation, and which spills


s: Its foam against the skies, reluctant spares


s: And calm as cherished hate, its surface wears[qb]


s: A deep cold settled aspect nought can shake,


s: All coiled into itself and round, as sleeps the snake.


s: Shine from a sister valley;--and afar[31.H.]


s: The Tiber winds, and the broad Ocean laves


s: The Latian coast where sprung the Epic war,


s: "Arms and the Man," whose re-ascending star


s: Rose o'er an empire:--but beneath thy right


s: Tully reposed from Rome;--and where yon bar


s: Of girdling mountains intercepts the sight[qc]


s: The Sabine farm was tilled, the weary Bard's delight.


s: But I forget.--My Pilgrim's shrine is won,


s: And he and I must part,--so let it be,--


s: His task and mine alike are nearly done;


s: Our friend of youth, that Ocean, which when we


s: Those waves, we followed on till the dark Euxine rolled


s: Upon the blue Symplegades:[32.H.] long years--


s: Long, though not very many--since have done


s: Their work on both; some suffering and some tears[qd]


s: Yet not in vain our mortal race hath run--


s: We have had our reward--and it is here,--


s: That we can yet feel gladdened by the Sun,


s: And reap from Earth--Sea--joy almost as dear


s: As if there were no Man to trouble what is clear.


s: Oh! that the Desert were my dwelling-place,


s: Though with them to converse can rarely be our lot.


s: There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,


s: I love not Man the less, but Nature more,


s: From these our interviews, in which I steal


s: What I can ne'er express--yet can not all conceal.


s: Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean--roll!


s: Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain;


s: Man marks the earth with ruin--his control


s: Stops with the shore;--upon the watery plain


s: The wrecks are all thy deed, nor doth remain


s: When, for a moment, like a drop of rain,


s: He sinks into thy depths with bubbling groan--


s: Without a grave--unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown.[qe]


s: His steps are not upon thy paths,--thy fields


s: Are not a spoil for him,--thou dost arise


s: And shake him from thee; the vile strength he wields


s: For Earth's destruction thou dost all despise,


s: Spurning him from thy bosom to the skies--


s: And send'st him, shivering in thy playful spray


s: And howling, to his Gods, where haply lies


s: His petty hope in some near port or bay,


s: And dashest him again to Earth:--there let him lay.[qf]


s: The armaments which thunderstrike the walls


s: Of rock-built cities, bidding nations quake,


s: The oak Leviathans, whose huge ribs make[qg]


s: These are thy toys, and, as the snowy flake,


s: They melt into thy yeast of waves, which mar


s: Alike the Armada's pride or spoils of Trafalgar.


s: Thy shores are empires, changed in all save thee--


s: Thy waters washed them power while they were free,[qh]


s: And many a tyrant since; their shores obey


s: The stranger, slave, or savage; their decay


s: Has dried up realms to deserts:--not so thou,


s: Unchangeable save to thy wild waves' play,[qi]


s: Time writes no wrinkle on thine azure brow--


s: Such as Creation's dawn beheld, thou rollest now.


s: Thou glorious mirror, where the Almighty's form


s: Glasses itself in tempests; in all time,


s: Calm or convulsed--in breeze, or gale, or storm--


s: Dark-heaving--boundless, endless, and sublime--


s: Of the Invisible; even from out thy slime


s: The monsters of the deep are made--each Zone


s: Obeys thee--thou goest forth, dread, fathomless, alone.


s: And I have loved thee, Ocean! and my joy


s: Of youthful sports was on thy breast to be


s: Borne, like thy bubbles, onward: from a boy


s: I wantoned with thy breakers--they to me


s: Were a delight; and if the freshening sea


s: Made them a terror--'twas a pleasing fear,


s: And trusted to thy billows far and near,


s: And laid my hand upon thy mane--as I do here.


s: My task is done--my song hath ceased--my theme


s: The spell should break of this protracted dream.


s: The torch shall be extinguished which hath lit


s: My midnight lamp--and what is writ, is writ,--


s: Would it were worthier! but I am not now


s: That which I have been--and my visions flit


s: Which in my Spirit dwelt is fluttering, faint, and low.


s: Farewell! a word that must be, and hath been--


s: A sound which makes us linger;--yet--farewell![ql]


s: Ye! who have traced the Pilgrim to the scene[qm]


s: Which is his last--if in your memories dwell


s: A thought which once was his--if on ye swell


s: He wore his sandal-shoon, and scallop-shell;


s: Farewell! with _him_ alone may rest the pain,


s: If such there were--with _you_, the Moral of his Strain.


s: {319} _MS. D._, Byron's final fair copy, is in the possession of


s: {321} [Compare Canto IV. stanza clxiv.--


s: "But where is he, the Pilgrim of my Song....


s: He is no more--these breathings are his last."]


s: {322} [His marriage. Compare the epigram, "On my Wedding-Day,"


s: sent in a letter to Moore, January 2, 1820--


s: "Here's a happy new year!--but with reason


s: But as _few_ as you please of the _day_."]


s: {323} [Some fancy me no Chinese, because I am formed more like a


s: [_Vide ante_, Introduction to Canto IV., p. 315.]


s: {325} [Shelley (notes M. Darmesteter), in his preface to the


s: circumstances which awaken it to action perpetually change."


s: "Capability" in the sense of "undeveloped faculty or property; a


s: "It must be so--_Plato_, thou reason'st well!--


s: Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire,


s: [Shelley chose this refrain as the motto to his unfinished lines


s: {326} [_The substance of some letters written by an Englishman


s: [Byron sent the first stanza to Murray, July 1, 1817, "the shaft


s: But me no '_buts_,' unless you would pass o'er


s: Sabellicus, describing the appearance of Venice, has made use of


s: Historiarum Enneades, a condito mundo, usque ad_ A.C. 1504. His


s: "Quem non res hominum, non omnis ceperat ætas,


s: Scribentem capit hæc Coccion urna brevis."


s: Cybele (sometimes written Cybelle and Cybēle), the "mother of the


s: ["Gems wrought into drinking-vessels, among which the least


s: [After the fall of Constantinople, in 1204, "the illustrious


s: Dandolo ... was permitted to tinge his buskins in the purple hue


s: [The gondoliers (see Hobhouse's note ii.) used to sing alternate


s: We rested; and the verse was verse divine!


s: We could not err--Perhaps he was the last--


s: For none took up the strain, none answer'd him;


s: And, when he ceased, he left upon my ear


s: A something like the dying voice of Venice!"


s: {331} [The Rialto, or Rivo alto, "the middle group of islands


s: Otway--"master of the tragic art"--and the title of his


s: Too soon will break, and wake us to our sorrow;


s: Come, come to bed, and bid thy cares Good night!"]


s: Substance, and people planets of its own


s: With beings brighter than have been, and give


s: A breath to forms which can outlive all flesh."


s: The ideal personages of the poet's creations have the promise of


s: And now because I feel it growing dull."


s: _Albeit is not my nature, and I twine_.--[MS. M. erased]


s: {335} The answer of the mother of Brasidas, the Lacedæmonian


s: general, to the strangers who praised the memory of her son.


s: [The Bucentaur, "the state barge in which, on Ascension Day, the


s: splendour, makes us forget the original....


s: "She was a maiden City, bright and free;


s: No guile seduced, no force could violate;


s: {336} [For "Lion," see Hobhouse's note iii. The "Horses of St.


s: {337} ["Oh, for one hour of Dundee!" was the exclamation of a


s: Who on that day the word of onset gave!"


s: "Doge Dandolo survived to ninety summers,


s: To vanquish empires, and refuse their crown."


s: "The vessels that bore the bishops of Soissons and Troyes, the


s: [Compare the opening lines of Byron's _Ode on Venice_--


s: "Oh Venice! Venice! when thy marble walls


s: Are level with the waters, there shall be


s: especially in Venice, where his relics, which "coruscated with


s: miracles," were the object of peculiar veneration.


s: St. Pantaleon was known to the Greek Church as Παντελεήμων


s: {340} Shakespeare is my authority for the word "Ottomite" for


s: ["On 29th September (1669) Candia, and the island of Candia,


s: ["The battle of Lepanto [October 7, 1571] lasted five hours....


s: {341} [The story is told in Plutarch's _Life of Nicias_, cap.


s: trustworthiness ... is much inferior to its pathos and


s: [By the Treaty of Paris, May 3, 1814, Lombardy and Venice, which


s: _The Past at least is mine--whate'er may come_.


s: throughout the mountainous region of Central Europe.]


s: [Cicero, _De Finibus_, II. xxix., controverts the maxim of


s: Epicurus, that a great sorrow is necessarily of short duration, a


s: {346} [Compare Bishop Blougram's lament on the instability of


s: "Just when we are safest, there's a sunset-touch,


s: A fancy from a flower-bell, some one's death,


s: And that's enough for fifty hopes and fears.


s: The cold, the faithless, and the dead."]


s: Of Heaven descends upon a land like thee,


s: Looking upon the evening, and the flood,


s: Which lay between the city and the shore,


s: Paved with the image of the sky ... the hoar


s: And aëry Alps towards the north appeared,


s: Thro' mist, an heaven-sustaining bulwark reared


s: Between the East and West; and half the sky


s: Was roofed with clouds of rich emblazonry,


s: Dark purple at the zenith, which still grew


s: Down the steep West into a wondrous hue,


s: {349} [The Brenta rises in Tyrol, and flowing past Padua falls


s: {350} [The Abbé de Sade, in his _Mémoires pour la vie de


s: {351} ["He who would seek, as I have done, the last memorials of


s: "The clouds that gather round the setting sun


s: That hath kept watch o'er man's mortality."]


s: The struggle is to the full as likely to be with demons as with


s: [Byron passed a single day at Ferrara in April, 1817; went over


s: the castle, cell, etc., and a few days after wrote _The Lament of


s: {355} [It is a fact that Tasso was an involuntary inmate of the


s: confinement." It was, as Shelley says (see his letter to Peacock,


s: [Hobhouse, in his note x., quotes Boileau, but not in full. The


s: "Tous les jours, à la cour, un sot de qualité


s: Et le clinquant du Tasse à tout l'or de Virgile."


s: different criticism on French poetry in general--


s: "En vain vos légions l'environnent sans nombre,


s: Il n'a qu'à se lever pour couvrir de son ombre


s: Il n'a qu'à dire un mot pour couvrir vos voix grèles,


s: Comme un char en passant couvre le bruit des ailes


s: _Les Feuilles d'Automne_, par Victor Hugo,


s: [In a letter to Murray (August 7, 1817) Byron throws out a hint


s: "Le Donne, i Cavaliér', l'arme, gli amori,


s: Le cortesíe, l'audaci imprese io canto."


s: Che in fronte scritti per gran doglia porte:


s: Deh fossi tu men bella, o almen più forte,


s: Par che si strugga, e pur ti sfida a morte,


s: Chè or giù dall' Alpi non vedrei torrenti


s: Per servir sempre, o vincitrice, o vinta."]


s: _And on thy brow in characters of flame_


s: _To write the words of sorrow and of shame_.--[MS. M. erased.]


s: ["By the events of the years 1813 and 1814, the house of Austria


s: {364} It is Poggio, who, looking from the Capitoline hill upon


s: Of which all Europe talks from side to side."]


s: _And buried Learning looks forth into fresher morn_,--


s: [The wealth which permitted the Florentine nobility to indulge


s: [The statue of Venus de' Medici, which stands in the Tribune of


s: _As from a fountain of immortal hills_.--[MS. M. erased.]


s: {366} [Byron's contempt for connoisseurs and dilettanti finds


s: (A race of mere impostors, when all's done--


s: I've seen much finer women ripe and real,


s: Than all the nonsense of their stone ideal)."


s: Ὀφθαλμοὺς ἑστιᾶν [O)phthalmou\s e(stia~n]


s: "Atque ita, suspiciens tereti cervice reposta,


s: Pascit amore avidos, inhians in te, Dea, visus;


s: and _Measure for Measure_, act ii. sc. 2, line 179--


s: [As the immortals, for love's sake, divest themselves of their


s: {369} ["The church of Santa Croce contains much illustrious


s: [Vittorio Alfieri (1749-1803) is one of numerous real and ideal


s: "Voici une esquisse du caractère que je manifestais dans les


s: premières anneés de ma raison naissante. Taciturne et tranquille


s: pour l'ordinaire, mais quelquefois extrêmement pétulant et


s: contenu plutôt par la crainte d'être grondé que par toute autre


s: The resemblance, as Byron admits, "related merely to our apparent


s: Love's charm with sorcery of Tuscan tongue,


s: Laid bare the world below to world above?


s: The azure height and trod the stars among?


s: And he whose searching mind the monarch's wrong,


s: Fount of the people's misery did prove?"]


s: _Spirits that soar like thine; from thy decay_


s: {_Still springs some son of the Divinity_}


s: {_Still springs some work of the Divinity_}--[D.]


s: _And gilds thy ruins with reviving ray_--


s: _And what these were of yore--Canova is to-day_.--[MS. M.]


s: [Compare "Lines on the Bust of Helen by Canova," which were sent


s: What nature _could_, but _would not_, do,


s: "Ravenna! where from Dante's sacred tomb


s: He had so oft, as many a verse declares,


s: [Compare Lucan, _Pharsalia_, i. I--"Bella per Emathios plusquam


s: [Giovanni Boccaccio was born at Paris (or Certaldo) in 1313,


s: _Boccaccio to his parent earth, bequeathed_


s: _The dust derived from thence--doth it not lie_


s: _With many a sweet and solemn requiem breathed_


s: _O'er him who formed the tongue of Italy_


s: _Asks for no tune to make it song; No--torn_


s: _From earth--and scattered while the silent sky_


s: _Hushed its indignant Winds--with quiet scorn_


s: _The Hyæna bigots thus forbade a World to mourn_.--


s: Which melts like kisses from a female mouth,


s: And sounds as if it should be writ on satin,


s: With syllables which breathe of the sweet South."


s: "And this omission, like that of the bust


s: [The inscription on Ricci's monument to Dante, in the Church of


s: ["I also went to the Medici chapel--fine frippery in great slabs


s: {377} [Byron, contrary to traditional use (see Wordsworth's


s: Slept in the sun, a lake of molten gold,


s: And from the shore that once, when armies met,


s: The rage, the slaughter, I had turned away."


s: Compare, too, Wordsworth's sonnet (No. xii.), "Near the Lake of


s: "When here with Carthage Rome to conflict came,


s: An earthquake, mingling with the battle's shock,


s: Checked not its rage; unfelt the ground did rock,


s: Sword dropped not, javelin kept its deadly aim,--


s: _Fly to the clouds for refuge and withdraw_


s: No book of travels has omitted to expatiate on the temple of the


s: "Hinc albi, Clitumne, greges et maxuma taurus


s: Victima, sæpe tuo perfusi flumine sacro."


s: Candentes gelido perfundit flumine tauros.")


s: {381} ["On my way back [from Rome], close to the temple by its


s: [By "disgust," a prosaic word which seems to mar a fine stanza,


s: Byron does not mean "distaste," aversion from the nauseous, but


s: {383} I saw the Cascata del Marmore of Terni twice, at different


s: Magland, on the road between Cluses and Sallanches.]


s: Urguet utrimque latus nemoris, medioque fragosus


s: Dat sonitum saxis et torto vertice torrens.


s: Hic specus horrendum et sævi spiracula Ditis


s: Monstrantur, ruptoque ingens Acheronte vorago


s: In the greater part of Switzerland, the avalanches are known by


s: {386} These stanzas may probably remind the reader of Ensign


s: [The construction is somewhat involved, but the meaning is


s: school-books are "a proof of the narrow extent of his classical


s: [The tomb of the Scipios, by the Porta Latina, was discovered by


s: [The sepulchres were rifled, says Hobhouse (_ibid_., p. 173),


s: "either to procure the necessary relics for churches dedicated to


s: {390} [The reference is to the historical inundations of the


s: [The Goths besieged and sacked Rome under Alaric, A.D. 410, and


s: [Compare Macaulay's _Lays of Ancient Rome_, "Prophecy of Capys,"


s: stumbling-blocks; and no sooner have we verified an association,


s: perceive that we have been deluded by a mirage.]


s: {392} Orosius gives 320 for the number of triumphs [i.e. from


s: _Alas, for Tully's voice, and Titus' sway_


s: _And Virgil's verse; the first and last must be_


s: _Into such dust deserted Rome should fade,_


s: _The Earth beneath her shadow and displayed_


s: _Her wings as with the horizon and was hailed,_


s: _Sylla supreme of Victors--save our own_


s: _Who swept off Senates--while he hewed the Throne_


s: _Down to a block--immortal Villain! See_


s: On the 3rd of September Cromwell gained the victory of Dunbar


s: ; a year afterwards he obtained "his crowning mercy" of Worcester


s: esteemed the most fortunate for him, died.


s: {395} [The statue of Pompey in the Sala dell' Udinanza of the


s: {396} [The bronze "Wolf of the Capitol" in the Palace of the


s: [The Roman "things" whom the world feared, set the fashion of


s: {397} [Compare _The Age of Bronze_, v.--"The king of kings, and


s: [According to Suetonius, i. 37, the famous words, _Veni Vidi,


s: Vici_, were blazoned on litters in the triumphal procession which


s: {398} [By "flee" in the "Gallic van," Byron means "fly towards,


s: The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear."]


s: "And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe,


s: And then, from hour to hour, we rot and rot;


s: _For such existence is as much to die_.--[MS. M. erased.]


s: Parliamentary reporter _pro hac vice_, scrawled in pencil in his


s: note-book, the phrase appears as "the nursling and champion of


s: Jacobinism;" and it is possible that the alternative of the more


s: _Her span of freedom hath but fatal been_


s: _To that of any coming age or clime_.--[MS. M.]


s: {402} [By the "base pageant" Byron refers to the Congress of


s: "O Slavery! thou frost of the world's prime,


s: Killing its flowers, and leaving its thorns bare!"]


s: Alluding to the tomb of Cecilia Metella, called Capo di Bove.


s: citadel--that is, the tomb." The "fence of stone" refers to the


s: Ον οἱ θεοὶ φιλοῦσιν ἀποθνήσκει νέος


s: Τὸ γὰρ θανεῖν οὐχ αἰσχρὸν, ἀλλ' αἰσχρῶς θανεῖν


s: _Till I had called forth even from the mind_.--[MS. M. erased.]


s: Long while the seat of Rome, hereafter found


s: Less than enough (so monstrous was the brood


s: Engendered there, so Titan-like) to lodge


s: One in his madness; and inscribe my name--


s: My name and date, on some broad aloe-leaf


s: That shoots and spreads within those very walls


s: Where Virgil read aloud his tale divine,


s: When his voice faltered and a mother wept


s: The Palatine is one mass of ruins, particularly on the side


s: towards the Circus Maximus. The very soil is formed of crumbled


s: _And show of Glory's gewgaws in the van_


s: _And the Sun's rays with flames more dazzling filled_.--[MS. M.]


s: [The "golden roofs" were those of Nero's _Domus Aurea_, which


s: "Hic ubi sidereus propius videt astra colossus


s: "Here where the Sun-god greets the Morning Star,


s: And tow'ring scaffolds block the public way,


s: Fell Nero's loathed pavilion flashed afar,


s: Erect and splendid 'mid the town's decay."]


s: Trajan's "moderation was known unto all men." Pliny, in his


s: emperor--as the most righteous of lawgivers and senators, who had


s: {412} [The archæologists of Byron's day were unable to fix the


s: regni"--a "depraved ambition for assuming the kingly power."]


s: _There first did Tully's burning accents glow?_


s: _Yes--eloquently still--the echoes tell me so_.--[D.]


s: [Compare Gray's _Odes_, "The Progress of Poesy," iii. 3, line


s: {415} [The word "nympholepsy" may be paraphrased as "ecstatic


s: {416} [Byron is describing the so-called Grotto of Egeria, which


s: "In vallem Egeriæ; descendimus et speluncas


s: Dissimiles veris. Quanto præstantius esset


s: Numen aquæ, viridi si margine clauderet undas


s: Herba, nec ingenuum violarent marmora tophum?"


s: Until its hue grows like what it beholds."]


s: "But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted


s: Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!"]


s: [Compare _Hamlet_, act ii. sc. 1, line 292--"This most excellent


s: _Feel the quick throbbing of a human heart_


s: _And the sweet sorrows of its deathless dying_.--[MS. M. erased.]


s: _Oh Love! thou art no habitant of Earth_


s: _And can point out thy time and place of birth_.--[D. erased.]


s: [M. Darmesteter traces the sentiment to a maxim (No. 76) of La


s: "A fiery soul which, working out its way,


s: And o'er-informed the tenement of clay."]


s: [The Romans had more than one proverb to this effect; e.g.


s: [Circumstance is personified as halting Nemesis--"Pede poena


s: But, finding no redress, ferment and rage;


s: "At all events," says the author of the _Academical Questions_


s: "But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in


s: materials for subsequent centuries. As an instance of wholesale


s: {424} [For a description of the Colosseum by moonlight, see


s: {426} [The whole of this appeal to Nemesis (stanzas


s: And if my voice break forth--{-it is not that-}


s: I shrink from what is suffered--let him speak


s: {-What-} hath beheld {-me quiver on my-} brow


s: seen my mind's convulsion leave it {-blenched or-} weak?


s: Or {-my internal spirit changed or weak-}


s: But in this page {-the-} record {-which-} I seek


s: {-stands and-}            {-of that remorse-}


s: {-Shall stand and when that hour shall come and come-}


s: {-Shall come--though I be ashes--and shall pile heap-}


s: {-It will-}                      {-come and wreak-}


s: Not in the air shall these my words disperse


s: {-'Tis written that an hour of deep remorse-}


s: Though I be ashes {-a deep-} far hour shall wreak


s: The deep prophetic fullness of {-my-} verse


s: And pile on human heads the mountain of my curse.--[MS. M.]


s: If to forgive be "heaping coals of Fire"


s: As God hath spoken--on the heads of foes


s: Mine should lie a Volcano-and rise higher


s: Than o'er the Titans crushed Olympus rose


s: Than Athos soars, or blazing Ætna glows:


s: True--they who stung were petty things--but what


s: Than serpent's sting produce more deadly throes.


s: Who sucks the slumberer's blood--the Eagle? no, the Bat.[§]--


s: Suetonius [Lib. i. cap. xlv.] informs us that Julius Cæsar was


s: {435} "Though plundered of all its brass, except the ring which


s: tertium. Fecit.) affirms that the temple was built by Agrippa (M.


s: {437} The Pantheon has been made a receptacle for the busts of


s: This and the three next stanzas allude to the story of the Roman


s: _Or even the shrill impatient_ [_cries that brook_].


s: {439} [It was fabled of the Milky Way that when Mercury held up


s: The castle of St. Angelo. (See _Historical Illustrations._)


s: _The now spectator with a sanctioned mirth_


s: This and the next six stanzas have a reference to the Church of


s: St. Peter's. (For a measurement of the comparative length of this


s: The austere Pantheon, into heaven shall soar


s: A dome, its image, while the base expands


s: Such as all flesh shall flock to kneel in--"


s: Compare, too, Browning's _Christmas Eve_, sect, x.--


s: [Compare Canto II. stanza lxxix. lines 2, 3--


s: "Oh Stamboul! once the Empress of their reign,


s: Though turbans now pollute Sophia's shrine."]


s: [The emphasis is on the word "fit." The measure of "fitness" is


s: enshrinement and the embodiment of the Spirit of God.]


s: [This stanza may be paraphrased, but not construed. Apparently,


s: _And glorious high altar where for ever burn_.--[MS. M. erased.]


s: or, _The Giant eloquence and thus unroll_.--[MS. M. erased.]


s: _Cannot keep pace with mind_----[MS. M. erased.]


s: [Pliny tells us (_Hist. Nat._, xxxvi. 5) that the Laocoon which


s: [In his description of the Apollo Belvidere, Byron follows the


s: {447} [The "delicate" beauty of the statue recalled the features


s: "Beauteous as vision seen in dreamy sleep


s: 'Mid the dim twilight of the laurel grove,


s: Too fair to worship, too divine to love.


s: Yet on that form in wild delirious trance


s: With more than rev'rence gazed the Maid of France,


s: Day after day the love-sick dreamer stood


s: With him alone, nor thought it solitude!


s: To cherish grief, her last, her dearest care,


s: Her one fond hope--to perish of despair."


s: Compare, too, Coleridge's _Kubla Khan_, lines 14-16--


s: As e'er beneath a wailing moon was haunted


s: [Charlotte Augusta (b. January 7, 1796), only daughter of the


s: _Her prayers for thee and in thy coming power_


s: _And desolate Consort! fatal is thy dower_,


s: {452} [Compare Canto III. stanza xxxiv. lines 6, 7--


s: "Like to the apples on the Dead Sea's shore,


s: Πάντα δέ τ' εἴδεται ἄστρα, γέγηθε δέ τε φρένα ποιμήν


s: After life's fitful fever he sleeps well."]


s: "You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate


s: {453} Mary died on the scaffold; Elizabeth, of a broken heart;


s: Charles V., a hermit; Louis XIV., a bankrupt in means and glory;


s: [The simile of the "earthquake" was repeated in a letter to


s: _Of girdling mountains circle on the sight_


s: _The Sabine farm was tilled, the wearied Bard's delight_.--


s: ["Calpe's rock" is Gibraltar (compare _Childe Harold_, Canto II.


s: ["After the stanza (near the conclusion of Canto 4th) which ends


s: "'As if there was no man to trouble what is clear,'


s: [His desire is towards no light o' love, but for the support and


s: Dearer and purer were, it should be thine;


s: Mountains and seas divide us, but I claim


s: No tears, but tenderness to answer mine:


s: Go where I will, to me thou art the same--


s: A loved regret which I would not resign.


s: There yet are two things in my destiny,--


s: A world to roam through and a home with thee.


s: "The first were nothing--had I still the last,


s: [Compare _Ps_. cvii. 26, "They mount up to the heaven, they go


s: {460} ["When Lord Byron wrote this stanza, he had, no doubt, the


s: Mediterranean. On those shores were the four great empires of the


s: [Compare Tennyson's _In Memoriam_, lv. stanza 6--


s: ["It was a thought worthy of the great spirit of Byron, after


s: "Βή δ' ἀκέων παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης


s: _To break the spell of this protracted dream_


s: _And what will be the fate of this my rhyme_


s: I stood in Venice, on the "Bridge of Sighs;"


s: Molto egli oprò col senno, e con la mano


s: E in van l' Inferno a lui s' oppose, e in vano


s: S' armò d' Asia, e di Libia il popol misto,


s: Che il Ciel gli diè favore, e sotto a i Santi


s: Che al fin l' ha libera co strassia, e dogia


s: Dio l' ha agiutá, e i compagni sparpagni


s: Tutti 'l gh' i ha messi insieme i di del Dai.


s: although the chant is seldom, if ever, voluntary, there are still


s: extravagant, he has furnished a very exact, as well as agreeable


s: Exposition of the most Holy Sacrament in the church of St.----


s: St. Mark yet sees his Lion where he stood


s: Mustoxidi has not been left without a reply; but, as yet, he has


s: pacification of the world can excuse such a solecism.


s: The Suabian sued, and now the Austrian reigns--


s: An Emperor tramples where an Emperor knelt.


s: Th' octogenarian chief, Byzantium's conquering foe.


s: Thin streets, and foreign aspects, such as must


s: Too oft remind her who and what enthrals.


s: The population of Venice, at the end of the seventeenth century,


s: thousand; and it diminishes daily. The commerce and the official


s: employments, which were to be the unexhausted source of Venetian


s: grandeur, have both expired. Most of the patrician mansions are


s: Watering the tree which bears his Lady's name


s: With his melodious tears, he gave himself to Fame.


s: They keep his dust in Arqua, where he died.


s: Petrarch retired to Arquà immediately on his return from the


s: Shaksperian memorials of Stratford-upon-Avon.


s: conspicuously alone, but will be soon overshadowed by four lately


s: Mr. Forsyth was not quite correct in saying that Petrarch never


s: precluded the Italians from the criticism of the living, has


s: concentrated their attention to the illustration of the dead.


s: In face of all his foes, the Cruscan quire,


s: "À Malherbe, à Racan, préfère Théophile,


s: Et le clinquant du Tasse à tout l'or de Virgile."


s: Bouhours is recorded only to the confusion of the critic, whose


s: The iron crown of laurel's mimicked leaves.


s: consecrate the memory of the ceremony, the once famous fallen


s: jealously claimed as the Homer, not of Italy but Ferrara. The


s: For the true laurel-wreath which Glory weaves


s: Is of the tree no bolt of thunder cleaves.


s: The eagle, the sea calf, the laurel, and the white vine, were


s: Know, that the lightning sanctifies below.


s: deficient in delicacy, when he made his grateful nymph inform her


s: The reader will recollect the anecdote told in the _Life of Dr.


s: supposes, the man is no other than the barber of Julius Cæsar.


s: interior secrets, than seen in the outward management, of family


s: satisfaction from contemplating the engaging qualities of the


s: theatre. In the autumn of 1816, a celebrated improvisatore


s: Here Machiavelli's earth returned to whence it rose.


s: distinguished above those of ordinary men: the author of the


s: and though the preference appeared to some casuists "an heretical


s: There is still much curious information relative to the life and


s: Like Scipio, buried by the upbraiding shore:


s: Thy factions, in their worse than civil war,


s: Era grand' huom che d' Aphrica s' appella,


s: Perche prima col ferro al uiuo aprilla."


s: Which Petrarch's laureate brow supremely wore,


s: Boccaccio to his parent earth bequeathed


s: district, the last branch of the house of Medicis, afforded that


s: beginning of the last century one would have been hooted at for


s: The site of the battle of Thrasimene is not to be mistaken. The


s: hillocks, Hannibal placed his horse, in the jaws of, or rather


s: "tumuli." On a summit to the left, above the road, is an old


s: circular ruin, which the peasants call "the tower of Hannibal the


s: despatched his Balearic and light-armed troops round through the


s: The Romans fought desperately for three hours; but the death of


s: And thou, dread Statue! still existent in


s: gravem," than with any of the busts of Augustus, and is too stern


s: And thou, the thunder-stricken nurse of Rome!


s: mentioned by Cicero. To him Rycquius _tremblingly_ assents.


s: Nardini is inclined to suppose it may be one of the many wolves


s: had totally expired. This may account for the preservation of the


s: Ludere pendentes pueros, et lambere matrem


s: Impavidos; illam, tereti cervice reflexam,


s: Mulcere alternos, et corpora fingere linguâ."


s: Was modelled in a less terrestrial mould.


s: Which found no mortal resting-place so fair


s: This grotto and valley were formerly frequented in summer, and


s: misplaced in these caves; for he expressly assigns other fanes


s: Our English Juvenal was not seduced into mistranslation by his


s: "Thence slowly winding down the vale we view


s: The Egerian _grots_: oh, how unlike the true!"


s: Here, where the ancient paid thee homage long.


s: We read in Suetonius, that Augustus, from a warning received in a


s: notwithstanding its place in the Roman martyrology. Besides the


s: Here, where the Roman million's blame or praise


s: Was Death or Life--the playthings of a crowd.


s: When one gladiator wounded another, he shouted, "He has it," "Hoc


s: An Englishman who can be much pleased with seeing two men beat


s: spectacle and the spectators with horror and disgust.


s: The Tiber winds, and the broad Ocean laves


s: "Me quotiens reficit gelidus Digentia rivus,


s: Quem Mandela bibit rugosus frigore pagus."


s: The hill which should be Lucretilis is called Campanile, and by


s: "To trace the Muses upwards to their spring,"


s: by exploring the windings of the romantic valley in search of the


s: {472} _Su i Quattro Cavalli della Basilica di S. Marco in


s: deposita, ovinam mansuetudinem induit."--_Romualdi Salernitani


s: {475} See the above-cited Romuald of Salerno. In a second sermon


s: Mr. Gibbon has omitted the important _æ_, and has written Romani


s: {476} "Fiet potentium in aquis Adriaticis congregatio, cæco


s: {478} "Nonnullorum e nobilitate immensæ sunt opes, adeo ut vix


s: Mr. Gibbon called his _Memoirs_ "a labour of love" (see _Decline


s: In a dialogue with St. Augustin, Petrarch has described Laura as


s: Petrarch's mistress was a _chaste_ maid or a _continent_ wife.


s: Sonetto 50, _Quando giunse a Simon l'alto concetto_.


s: {482} "Il n'y a que la vertu seule qui soit capable de faire des


s: "And if the virtue or prudence of Laura was inexorable, he


s: _La Manière de bien Penser dans les Ouvrages de l'esprit_, sec.


s: For further, and it is hoped, decisive proof, that Tasso was


s: It was founded in 1582, and the Cruscan answer to Pellegrino's


s: _Caraffa_, or _Epica poesia_, was published in 1584.


s: "Cotanto, potè sempre in lui il veleno della sua pessima volontà


s: _La Vita di M. L. Ariosto_, scritta dall' Abate Girolamo


s: _Historical Illustrations, etc._, p. 26.)


s: "Appassionato ammiratore ed invitto apologista dell' _Omero


s: "Parva sed apta mihi, sed nulli obnoxia, sed non


s: Sordida, parta meo sed tamen ære domus."


s: August_., cap. xc., et in _Vit. Tiberii_, cap. lxix.


s: {489} Pauli Warnefridi Diaconi _De Gestis Langobard_., lib. iii.


s: _Nomina gentesque Antiquæ Italiæ_ (Gibbon, _Miscell. Works_,


s: {492} The free expression of their honest sentiments survived


s: spontaneously expressed, is never wrong. Even the soldiers of the


s: {495} So relates Ficino, but some think his coronation only an


s: "Vitam Literni egit sine desiderio urbis." See T. Liv., _Hist._,


s: The Greek boasted that he was ἰσόνομος [i)so/nomos].


s: {498} "E intorno _alla magnifica risposta_," etc. Serassi, _Vita


s: {499} "Accingiti innoltre, se ci è lecito ancor l'esortarti, a


s: {501} "Non enim ubique est, qui in excusationem meam consurgens


s: {506} _Hist._, lib. iii. cap. 83. The account in Polybius is not


s: _Storia delle Arti, etc._, lib. xi. cap. i.


s: {510} _Antiq. Rom._, lib. i., Χάλκεα ποιήματα παλαῖας ἐργασίας


s: "Tum statua Nattæ, tum simulacra Deorum, Romulusque et Remus cum


s: "Hic silvestris erat Romani nominis altrix


s: Martia, quæ parvos Mavortis semine natos


s: Quæ tum cum pueris flammato fulminis ictu


s: Concidit, atque avulsa pedum vestigia liquit."


s: See note to stanza lxxx. in _Historical Illustrations_.


s: "Romuli nutrix Lupa honoribus est affecta divinis. Et ferrem, si


s: _Accurata e succincta Descrizione, etc., di Roma moderna_, dell'


s: {515} "Jure cæsus existimetur," says Suetonius, i. 76, after a


s: "In villa Justiniana exstat ingens lapis quadras solidus, in quo


s: "'Ægeria est quæ præbet aquas dea grata Camoenis,


s: Qui lapis videtur eodem Egeriæ fonte, aut ejus vicinia, istuc


s: Sueton., in _Vit. Augusti_, cap. xci. Casaubon, in the note,


s: It is enumerated by the regionary Victor.


s: "Fortunæ; hujusce diei." Cicero mentions her, _De Legib._, lib.


s: {520} Julius Cæsar, who rose by the fall of the aristocracy,


s: brought Furius Leptinus and A. Calenus upon the arena.


s: Vopiscus, in _Vit. Aurel._, and in _Vit. Claud._, _ibid._


s: Augustinus (_Confess._, lib. vi. cap. viii.): "Alypium suum


s: {525} "Under our windows and bordering on the beach is the royal


s: Ere WILL had done 'twas waxing wond'rous late;


s: Ye Criticks, and ye Hyper-Criticks!--who


s: But to the Ale-house, oftentimes, they came,


s: And, o'er the embers of the Ale-house fire,


s: All their discourse on modern Poets ran;


s: For in the Muses was their sole delight;--


s: They talk'd of such, and such, and such a man;


s: Of those who could, and those who could not write.


s: To count the modern Poets, who had brains.


s: 'Twas a small difficulty;--'twasn't any;


s: But the _small fry_ of scribblers!--tiny souls!


s: It would have raise'd a smile to see the faces


s: At many an author, as they overhaul'd him.


s: But, if they found him bad, they maul'd him.


s: Pounce, _vi et armis_--tooth and nail--pell mell.


s: They call'd them Carpenters, and Smugglers;


s: Filching their incidents from ancient hoards,


s: And knocking them together, like deal boards:


s: By making--Plays?--No, Sir, by making _tricks_.


s: They play'd the very devil with their rhymes.


s: They hope'd Apollo a new set would send us;


s: Place'd modish verse, which they call'd stuff,


s: For Novels, should their critick hints succeed,


s: The Misses might fare better when they took 'em;


s: But it would fare extremely ill, indeed,


s: With gentle _Messieurs Lane_ and _Hookham_.


s: "A Novel, now," says WILL, "is nothing more


s: Than an old castle,--and a creaking door,--


s: Clanking of chains--a gallery--a light,--


s: Old armour--and a phantom all in white,--


s: Out of the land," quoth WILL--rousing in passion--


s: "And fy upon the readers of such writers,


s: WILL rose in declamation. "'Tis the bane,"


s: Says he, "of youth;--'tis the perdition:


s: With vice, romance, lust, terror, pain,--


s: I'd quash such books _in toto_;--if I couldn't,


s: Let me but catch one Miss that broke my rule,


s: I'd flog her soundly; damme if I wouldn't."


s: WILLIAM, 'tis plain, was getting in a rage;


s: But, Thomas dryly said,--for he was cool--


s: "I think no gentleman would mend the age


s: By flogging Ladies at a Boarding-school."


s: While you, my friend, with passion run 'em down,


s: Taste, over-glutted, grows deprave'd, and sick,


s: "Time was,--(when honest Fielding writ)--


s: Tales full of Nature, Character, and Wit,


s: Were reckon'd most delicious boil'd and roast:


s: But stomachs are so cloy'd with novel-feeding,


s: And want that strong provocative, a Ghost.


s: Mind, just like bodies, suffer enervation,


s: "Now, a Romance, with reading Debauchees,


s: Rouses their torpid powers when Nature fails;


s: "But how to cure the evil?" you will say:


s: As if the night-mare rode upon their pen,


s: And trouble'd all their ink with hideous dreams.


s: "For instance--when a solemn Ghost stalks in,


s: "Draw but a Ghost, or Fiend, _of low degree_,


s: And all the bubble's broken!--Let us see."


s: Where broods the heath-frequenting grouse,


s: Here Silence reign'd, with lips of glue,


s: Save when the Owl cry'd "whoo! whoo! whoo!"


s: Or the hoarse Crow croak'd "caw! caw! caw!"


s: Four barbed steeds,--from the Bull's head,


s: Swift whirl the wheels.--He's gone.--A Rose


s: Sweet, beauteous blossom!----'twas the Cook!


s: 'Twas a tall youth, whose cheek's clear hue,


s: Was tinge'd with health and manly toil;--


s: Oft would he cry, "Delve, Delve the hole!


s: Hard toil'd the youth, so fresh and strong,


s: For thus he sung:--while Cupid smile'd;--


s: Please'd that the Gard'ner own'd his dart,


s: Which prune'd his passions, running wild,


s: True love ne'er tints the cheek with shame:


s: When Gard'ners' hearts, like hot-beds, burn,


s: Cold blows the blast:--the night's obscure:


s: Vain maid! a Gard'ner's corpse, 'tis said,


s: Tho' a large mould of four to th' pound.


s: More strong and strong her terrors rose;--


s: She climb'd Lord Hoppergollop's stair;--


s: Three stories high--long, dull, and old,--


s: And "o'er the one half world seem'd dead;"


s: No "curtain'd sleep" had she;----because


s: The clock struck _Twelve_; the door flew wide;


s: Green, green his waistcoat was, as leeks;


s: Cut off with health's full blossom crown'd;


s: The Fiends approach; the Maid did shrink;


s: Swift thro' the night's foul air they spin;


s: They took her to the green well's brink,


s: And thought his Legend made as good a figure


s: Which beget issues in the Heliconian stews,


s: In all the gloomy _impotence of vigour_.


s: "'Twas now the very witching time of night,


s: When _Prosers_ yawn."--Discussion grew diffuse:


s: Argument's _carte and tierce_ were lost, outright:


s: Says WILL, quite carelessly,--"the other day,


s: Some writings aren't so difficult as people say;--


s: "What writings? whose?" says TOM--raking the cinders.


s: "Many," cried WILL:--"For instance,--PETER PINDAR'S."


s: "What! call you his a knack?"--"Yes;--mind his measure,


s: In _that_ lies half the _point_ that gives us pleasure."


s: "Granted," cries WILL: "I know I'm speaking treason:


s: With many a joke, and queer conceit, doth season


s: "And this I'll say of PETER, to his face,


s: And see how far quaint measure will prevail:"


s: Ent'ring the field against the grimly foe,


s: But meet just like prize-fighters, in a Fair,


s: With all the love and kindness of a brother:


s: Still they're sworn friends to one another.


s: Of occupations these were _quantum suff._:


s: Yet, still, he thought the list not long enough;


s: And therefore Midwifery he chose to pin to't.


s: This balance'd things:--for if he hurl'd


s: He made amends by bringing others into't.


s: His fame full six miles round the country ran;


s: All the old women call'd him "a fine man!"


s: Can't men have taste who cure a phthysic;


s: Bolus love'd verse;--and took so much delight in't,


s: That his prescriptions he resolve'd to write in't.


s: Of writing the directions, on his labels,


s: In dapper couplets,--like _Gay's Fables_;


s: Or, rather, like the lines in _Hudibras_.


s: Apothecary's verse!--and where's the treason?


s: 'Tis simply honest dealing:--not a crime;--


s: When patients swallow physick without reason,


s: Some three miles from the town,--it might be four;


s: To whom, one evening, Bolus sent an article,


s: Which, one would think, was clear enough,


s: Bolus arrive'd; and gave a doubtful tap;--


s: Are given by Gentlemen who teach to dance:


s: The Servant lets him in, with dismal face,


s: John's countenance as rueful look'd, and grim,


s: As if th' Apothecary had physick'd him,--


s: "Well, how's the Patient?" Bolus said:--


s: "Why then"--says John--"we _shook_ him once."


s: "Zounds! Shake a Patient, man!--a shake won't do."


s: "It did so, Sir!--and so a third we tried."


s: "Well, and what then?"--"then, Sir, my master died."


s: Ere WILL had done 'twas waxing wond'rous late;


s: And reeling Bucks the streets began to scour;


s: While guardian Watchmen, with a tottering gait,


s: Cried every thing, quite clear, except the hour.


s: A Song;--and so good night, good Gentlemen!


s: "I've Lyricks, such as _Bons Vivants_ indite,


s: In which your bibbers of Champagne delight,--


s: WHO has e'er been in London, that overgrown place,


s: Has seen "_Lodgings to Let_" stare him full in the face:


s: Some are good, and let dearly; while some, 'tis well known,


s: Are so dear, and so bad, they are best let alone.


s: WILL WADDLE, whose temper was studious and lonely,


s: Hire'd lodgings that took Single Gentlemen only;


s: But WILL was so fat he appear'd like a ton;--


s: Or like Two Single Gentlemen roll'd into One.


s: He enter'd his rooms, and to bed he retreated;


s: But, all the night long, he felt fever'd, and heated;


s: And, tho' heavy to weigh, as a score of fat sheep,


s: He was not, by any means, heavy to sleep.


s: Next night 'twas the same!--and the next;--and the next;


s: He perspire'd like an ox; he was nervous, and vex'd;


s: Week past after week; till, by weekly succession,


s: His weakly condition was past all expression.


s: In six months, his acquaintance began much to doubt him:


s: For his skin, "like a lady's loose gown," hung about him.


s: He sent for a Doctor; and cried, like a ninny,


s: "I have lost many pounds--make me well--there's a guinea."


s: The Doctor look'd wise:--"a slow fever," he said:


s: Prescribe'd sudorificks,--and going to bed.


s: "Sudorificks in bed," exclaim'd WILL, "are humbugs!


s: I've enough of them there, without paying for drugs!"


s: WILL kick'd out the Doctor:--but, when ill indeed,


s: E'en dismissing the Doctor don't _always_ succeed;


s: So, calling his host--he said--"Sir, do you know,


s: I'm the fat Single Gentleman, six months ago?


s: "Look'e, landlord, I think," argued WILL, with a grin,


s: "That with honest intentions you first _took me in_:


s: But from the first night--and to say it I'm bold--


s: I have been so damn'd hot, that I'm sure I caught cold."


s: Quoth the landlord--"till now, I ne'er had a dispute;


s: I've let lodgings ten years;--I'm a Baker, to boot;


s: In airing your sheets, Sir, my wife is no sloven;


s: And your bed is immediately over my Oven."


s: "The Oven!!!" says WILL;--says the host, "why this passion?


s: In that excellent bed died three people of fashion.


s: Why so crusty, good Sir?"--"Zounds!" cries WILL, in a taking,


s: "Who wouldn't be crusty, with half a year's baking?"


s: WILL paid for his rooms;--cried the host, with a sneer,


s: "Well, I see you've been _going away_ half a year:"


s: "Friend, we can't well agree,--yet no quarrel"--WILL said;--


s: "But I'd rather not _perish_, while you _make your bread_."


s: IN our Fifth Harry's reign, when 'twas the fashion


s: To thump the French, poor creatures! to excess;--


s: Tho' Britons, now a days, shew more compassion,


s: And thump them, certainly, a great deal less;--


s: In Harry's reign, when flush'd Lancastrian roses


s: Of York's pale blossoms had usurp'd the right;


s: As wine drives Nature out of drunkards' noses,


s: Till red, triumphantly, eclipses white;--


s: In Harry's reign--but let me to my song,


s: Or good king Harry's reign may seem too long.


s: When this king Harry went to war, in France,


s: And wond'rous bold Sir Thomas prove'd in battle,


s: Performing prodigies, with spear and shield;


s: His valour, like a murrain among cattle,


s: He was, at heart, a mild Philanthropist.


s: Much did he grieve, when making Frenchmen die,


s: "It quite distress'd his feelings," he would cry,


s: "That he must cut their throats,"--and, then he cut 'em.


s: He cut, and grieve'd, and cut, and came again;--


s: Clean thro' their bodies he kept drilling:


s: Till palling on his Laurels, grown so thick,


s: (As boys pull blackberries, till they are sick,)


s: Homeward he bent his course, to wreath 'em;


s: And in his Castle, near fair Norwich town,


s: Gives grace, and dignity--and so it may--


s: But, certainly, these gentlemen must own


s: That sitting under Laurels, quite alone,


s: Is much more dignified than entertaining.


s: Of his own prowess, felt so great a charm;--


s: (For, tho' he feign'd great grief in the relation,


s: He made the story longer than your arm;)


s: Than did our Knight--who could he pious too--


s: In telling his exploits, and martial brawls:


s: But pious _Thomas_ had no Dido near him--


s: No Queen--King, Lord, nor Commoner to hear him--


s: So he was force'd to tell them to the walls:


s: And to his Castle walls, in solemn guise,


s: The knight, full often, did soliloquize:--


s: For "Walls have ears," Sir Thomas had been told;


s: Yet thought the tedious hours would seem much shorter,


s: If, now and then, a tale he could unfold


s: To ears of flesh and blood, not stone and mortar.


s: At length, his old _Castellum_ grew so dull,


s: That legions of Blue Devils seize'd the Knight;


s: Till, thro' the day-time, he was haunted, wholly,


s: By all the imps of "loathed Melancholy!"--


s: Heaven keep her, and her imps, for ever, from us!--


s: Sat on his stomach, like a lump of lead,


s: Plagues such as these might make a Parson swear;


s: Or, rather, (from vexation) like a Drayman:


s: Damning his Walls, out of all line and level;


s: "What's to be done," Sir Thomas said one day,


s: Those happy days I spent in noise and strife!"


s: The last word struck him;--"Zounds!" says he,


s: Restrain, awhile, your frisking, and your giggling!


s: We mustn't, now, be fidgetting, and niggling.


s: O God of Love! Urchin of spite, and play!


s: Deserter, oft, from saffron Hymen's quarters;


s: His torch bedimming, as thou runn'st away,


s: Till half his Votaries become his Martyrs!


s: Sly, wandering God! whose frolick arrows pass


s: Thro' hearts of Potentates, and Prentice-boys;


s: Who mark'st with Milkmaids' forms, the tell-tale grass,


s: And make'st the fruitful Prude repent her joys!


s: Drop me one feather, from thy wanton wing,


s: Young God of dimples! in thy roguish flight;


s: The beauty of the Dame who won the Knight!


s: Her beauty!--but Sir Thomas's own Sonnet


s: SUCH _star-like_ lustre lights her _Eyes_,


s: And, having wander'd from their wonted place,


s: Fix in the wond'rous _Heaven_ of her _Face_.


s: Dies on her _Lips_, and leaves its _Fragrance_ there.


s: And thus the glowing _Climate_ did entice


s: Tendrils to curl, unprune'd, o'er _Paradise_.


s: Sir Thomas having close'd his love-sick strain,


s: Come, buxom Muse! and let us frisk again!


s: Close to a Chapel, near the Castle-gates,


s: Dwelt certain stickers in the Devil's skirts;


s: Who, with prodigious fervour, shave their pates,


s: And shew a most religious scorn for shirts.


s: Their House's sole Endowment was our Knight's:--


s: Thither an Abbot, and twelve Friars, retreating,


s: Conquer'd (sage, pious men!) their appetites


s: 'Twould seem, since tenanted by holy Friars,


s: That Peace and Harmony reign'd here eternally;--


s: Whoever told you so were cursed liars;--


s: The holy Friars quarrell'd most infernally.


s: Without some schism among these heavenly lodgers;


s: But none of their dissensions seem'd to last


s: So long as Friar John's and Friar Roger's.


s: I have been very accurate in my researches,


s: And find this Convent (truce with _whys_ and _hows_)


s: Kept in a constant ferment with the _rows_


s: Of these two quarrelsome fat sons of Churches.


s: But when Sir Thomas went to his devotions,


s: Proceeding thro' their Cloister with his Bride,


s: You never could have dream'd of their commotions,


s: The stiff-rump'd rascals look'd so sanctified:


s: He jogg'd his Bride, as soon as it was light,


s: Crying, "my dear, 'tis time for us to pray."--


s: Wives of this age might think his zeal surprising;


s: To see her Husband, every morning, rising,


s: Whose labour, wo the while! scarce buys them cassocks;


s: And, every morning, whether foul or fair,


s: Sir Thomas and the Dame were in their pew,


s: (Sir Thomas, and his Wife, this course pursuing,)


s: _Good morninging_, and _how d'ye doing_:


s: As thro' the Cloister she was wont to trip;


s: Stopping, sometimes, to have a little chat,


s: On casual topicks, with the holy brothers;--


s: And these her Ladyship's chaste condescensions,


s: Whene'er she greeted him, his gills grew red,


s: While she was quite unconscious of the matter;--


s: But he, the beast! was casting sheeps-eyes at her,


s: That coxcombs _were_ and _are_, I need not give,


s: Nor that those dead, like many, now, who live,


s: Have thought a Lady's condescension, love.


s: Fill'd with conceit up to his very brim!--


s: He thought his guts and garbage doated on,


s: By a fair Dame, whose Husband was to _him_


s: Burning with flames the Lady never knew,


s: But whether Friar John's fat shape and face,


s: He marr'd his hopes, by suffering his pen


s: Cuddle their Children, till they overlay 'em;--


s: 'Twas plain, his pray'r to decorate the brows


s: Of good Sir Thomas was so far from granted,


s: That the Dame went, directly, to her spouse,


s: And told him what the filthy Friar wanted.


s: Think, Reader, think! if thou hast ta'en, for life,


s: A partner to thy bed, for worse or better,


s: Think what Sir Thomas felt, when his chaste wife


s: Brandish'd, before his eyes, the Friar's letter!


s: Yes, Zounds! I say, Sir,--for it makes me swear--


s: More torture than he suffer'd from the wounds


s: Think gravely, Sir, I pray:--fancy the Knight--


s: ('Tis quite a Picture)--with his heart's delight!


s: Holding the Friar's foulness in her hand!--


s: Why bounce, and sputter, surely, like a squib:--


s: You would have done the same, Sir, if a knave,


s: His cheeks turn'd purple, and his nose turn'd blue;


s: He swore with this mock Saint he'd soon be even;--


s: He'd have him flay'd, like Saint Bartholomew;--


s: And, now again, he'd have him stone'd, like Stephen.


s: Therefore the Knight, finding his foam and froth


s: Work thro' the bung-hole of his mouth, like beer,


s: To let the stream of his revenge run clear:


s: Debating, with himself, what mode might suit him,


s: To trounce the rogue who wanted to cornute him.


s: First, an attack against his Foe he plann'd,


s: Learn'd in the Field, where late he fought so felly;


s: That is--to march up, bravely, sword in hand,


s: At last, his better judgment did declare--


s: By sticking Friars, as by killing swine--


s: To circumvent him, by a _ruse de guerre_:


s: And, as the project ripen'd in his head,


s: The Lady wrote just what Sir Thomas told her;


s: That Wives did, once, what Husbands bid them do;--


s: Lord! how this World improves, as we grow older!


s: Thus have I seen a liquorish, black rat,


s: Lure'd by the Cook, to sniff, and smell her bacon;


s: Down goes a trap upon him, and he's taken.


s: The doctrines of Sir Pandarus, of Troy,--


s: Slipp'd the Dame's note into the Friar's hand,


s: And, then, slipp'd off,--as silent as an oyster.


s: For, now the Farce's unities were right:


s: The Scene, a Bow'r; Time, Twelve o'clock, at night.


s: Blithe was fat John!--and, dreading no mishap,


s: Stole, at the hour appointed, to the _trap_;


s: But, so perfume'd, so musk'd, for the occasion,--


s: His _tribute_ to the nose so like _invasion_,--


s: You would have sworn, to smell him, 'twas no rat,


s: He reach'd the spot, anticipating blisses,


s: Soft murmurs, melting sighs, and burning kisses,


s: Trances of joy, and mingling of the souls;


s: When, whack! Sir Thomas hit him on the joles.


s: Now, on his head it came, now on his face,


s: His neck, and shoulders, arms, legs, breast, and back;


s: Making him rue the day that he was born;--


s: Sir Thomas plied his cudgel like a flail,


s: And thrash'd as if he had been thrashing corn.


s: At length, a thump,--(painful the facts, alas!


s: Took Friar John so smart athwart the pate,


s: It acted like a perfect _coup de grace_.


s: Or aim'd maliciously,--tho' Fame says _not_--


s: Certain his soul (the Knight so crack'd his crown)


s: Fled from his body; but which way it went,


s: Or whether Friars' souls fly up, or down,


s: Points so abstruse I dare not dwell upon;


s: For I have business, still, in my narration,


s: With the fat carcass of this holy porpus;


s: And Death, tho' sharp in his Administration,


s: Never suspended such an _Habeas Corpus_.


s: READER! if you have Genius, you'll discover,


s: It, now and then, in spite of you, boils over,


s: Haven't you (lucky man if _not_) been vex'd,


s: A forward, empty, self-sufficient slave?


s: And haven't you, all christian patience gone,


s: At last, put down the puppy with your wit;--


s: On whom it seem'd, tho' you had Mines of it,


s: And haven't you, (I'm sure you have, my friend!)


s: All little pique, and malice, at an end,--


s: And said, (if witty, so would say your Bard,)


s: "Damn it! I hit that meddling fool too hard?"


s: Whose Genius didn't much disturb his pate:


s: It rather, in his bones, and muscles, lay,--


s: Thus did Sir Thomas say;--and well he might,


s: For, certainly, (tho' not with _wit_) the Knight


s: And heads, nineteen in twenty, 'tis confest,


s: Can feel a crab-stick sooner than a jest.


s: There was, in the Knight's family, a man


s: Cast in the roughest mould Dame Nature boasts;


s: With shoulders wider than a dripping pan,


s: And legs as thick, about the calves, as posts.


s: All the domesticks, viewing, in this hulk,


s: Thro'out the Castle, every whipper-snapper


s: Was canvassing the merits of this strapper:


s: Most of the Men voted his size alarming;


s: But all the Maids, _nem. con._ declare'd it charming!


s: This wight possess'd a quality most rare;--


s: Lest pretty Ladies question my veracity:


s: 'Twas--when he had a secret in his care,


s: To keep it, with the greatest pertinacity.


s: Pour but a secret in him, and 'twould glue him


s: Like rosin, on a well-cork'd bottle's snout;


s: Had twenty devils come with cork-screws to him,


s: They never could have screw'd the secret out.


s: Now, when Sir Thomas, in the dark, alone,


s: Had kill'd a Friar, weighing twenty stone,


s: Whose carcass must be hid, before the dawn,


s: He thought on this man's secresy, and brawn;--


s: And, like a swallow, o'er the lawn he skims,


s: Up to the Cock-loft of the Duke of Limbs:


s: Where Somnus, son of Nox, the humble copy


s: Of his own daughter Mors, had made assault


s: On the Duke's eye-lids,--not with juice of poppy,


s: But potent draughts, distill'd from hops and malt.


s: Certainly, nothing operates much quicker


s: Than one of them being asleep, in liquor,


s: Yet circumstance did, presently, require


s: And to instruct his Man, knock'd down with ale,


s: That he (Sir Thomas) had knock'd down a Friar.


s: Sir, the best method--I have tried a score--


s: Is, when his nose is playing thoro' bass,


s: A Sleeper's nose is made on the same plan


s: As the small wire 'twixt a Doll's wooden thighs;


s: For pull the nose, or wire, the Doll, or Man,


s: Will open, in a minute, both their eyes.


s: This mode Sir Thomas took,--and, in a trice,


s: Grasp'd, with his thumb and finger, like a vice,


s: That feature which the human face embosses,


s: And pull'd the Duke of Limbs by the proboscis.


s: The Man awoke, and goggle'd on his master;--


s: Fresh from concluding, on a Friar's nob,


s: What Coroners would call an awkward job,


s: He glare'd, all horror-struck and grim,--


s: His hair stuck up, like bristles on a pig;--


s: So Garrick look'd, when he perform'd Macbeth;


s: Who, ere he entered, after Duncan's death,


s: The Knight cried, "Follow me!"--with strange grimaces;


s: But he reverse'd, in making himself smart,


s: The Highlanders expose to wind and weather.


s: They reach'd the bower where the Friar lay;


s: "Here a fat Friar lies, kill'd with a mauling,


s: For coming, in the dark, a-caterwauling;


s: Thus, solemnly, Sir Thomas spake, and sigh'd;--


s: "Odrabbit it! Sir Thomas! you don't say so!"


s: Then, taking the huge Friar _per_ the hocks,


s: He whirl'd the ton of blubber three times round,


s: And swung it on his shoulders, from the ground,


s: With strength that yields, in any age, to no man's,--


s: Tho' Milo's ghost should rise, bearing the Ox


s: He carried at the games of the old Romans.


s: Nay, I opine--let Fame say what it can--


s: Of ancient vigour, (Fame is, oft, a Liar)


s: And his fat Ox quite skinny to the Friar.


s: If Roman graziers (should the truth come out)


s: Were, like the English, knowing in the matter;--


s: --I wouldn't breed my beast _more Romano_;--


s: For, I suspect, in fatt'ning they were dull,


s: They fed him ill,--and, then, he got no fatter


s: I am aware that much has been said, of old, relative to the


s: "_cura boum_," and the "_optuma torvæ forma bovis_;"--but,


s: for a show of cattle, I would back Smithfield, or most of our


s: English market Towns, against any _forum boarium_ of the


s: Over the moat, (the draw-bridge being down)


s: Gallantly stalk'd the brawny Duke of Limbs,


s: Bearing _Johannes_, of the shaven crown,


s: Fame'd, when alive, for spoiling maids, and hymns;


s: For mangling _Pater-Nosters_, and goose-pies,


s: And telling sundry beads,--and sundry lies.


s: Across a marsh he strode, with steadier gait


s: Than Satan trod the Syrtis, at his fall,


s: And perch'd himself, with his monastick weight,


s: Whence, on the grounds within it, as he gaze'd,


s: To find a spot where he might leave his load,


s: He 'spied a _House_ so _little_, it seem'd raise'd


s: More for Man's visits, than his fix'd abode;--


s: For, now, she sought Endymion on the hill.


s: While I describe, with dignity, the place.


s: _Tarquinius Superbus_, the last King of Rome;--he was a


s: haughty Monarch, and built the _Cloaca maxima_.


s: Snug in an English garden's shadiest spot,


s: A structure stands, and welcomes many a breeze;


s: Lonely, and simple as a Ploughman's cot,


s: Where Monarchs may unbend, who wish for ease.


s: There sit Philosophers; and sitting read;


s: And to some end apply the dullest pages;


s: And pity the Barbarians, north of Tweed,


s: Who scout these fabricks of the southern Sages.


s: It shrinks, so modestly, from observation!


s: And hides behind all sorts of evergreen;--


s: Like a coy Maid, design'd for filthy Man,


s: Peeping, at his approach, behind her fan.


s: Into this place, unnotice'd by beholders,


s: The Duke of Limbs, most circumspectly, stole,


s: Just like a sack of round Newcastle coal:


s: Was mark'd with ceremonies half so slight;


s: For John was left, not like the dead interr'd,


s: But, like the living, sitting bolt upright!


s: Has no shrewd Reader, of one sex or t'other,


s: Thought on a certain Roger?--that same brother


s: That, at this juncture, Roger wasn't well;


s: Poor Man! he had been rubbing, all the day,


s: Where spasms were kicking up a furious frolick,


s: Afflicting him with mulligrubs and cholick.


s: He also had imbibe'd, to sooth his pains,


s: And to the garden's deepest shade was bent,


s: To give, quite privily, his sorrows vent:


s: When, _there_,--alive and merry to appearance--


s: He 'spied his ancient foe, by the moon's light!--


s: Who sat erect, with so much perseverance,


s: It look'd as if he kept his post in spite.


s: And find another there, who keeps us out.


s: Roger, each time he pass'd, thro' spite or pain,


s: Roger, who, all his life, had John defied,


s: Was now oblige'd to speak him fair,--and truckle.


s: "Behold me," Roger cried, "behold me, John!


s: Entreating as a _favour_ you'll be gone;


s: Me!--who, in agony, tho' suing now to you,


s: Would, once, have seen you damn'd ere make a bow to you.


s: This is a palpable plagiarism. _Rolla_ thus addresses


s: that never yet have bent or _bow'd_--in humble _agony_ I _sue_


s: to you."--The theft is more glaring, as the Apostrophe, both


s: here, and in the original, occurs in the midst of a strong


s: incident, and is address'd to an Enemy by a proud spirit, in


s: To this address, so fraught with the pathetick,


s: Seeming to hint, "Roger, you're a plebeian


s: When it is, e'en, unanswer'd by a grunt,


s: 'Twould justify tame Job to curse a bit,


s: And set an Angler swearing, in his punt.


s: So seeing a huge brick-bat, up he took it;


s: Plump on the breast he hit his deadly foe;


s: Who fell, like Pedants' periods, to the ground,--


s: This is more solemn, mystical, and fine,--


s: Like something in the Castle of Otranto.


s: Bring, bring me, now, a Painter, for the work,


s: Who on the subject will, with furor, rush!


s: To make him dream of horrors, for his brush!


s: Come, Limners, come! who choke your house's entry


s: With dear, unmeaning lumber, from your easels;


s: Full length of fubsey Belles, or Beaux like weasels!


s: Here is a John, by moon-light, (a fat monk)


s: Lying stone _dead_; and, here, a Roger, _quick_!


s: Supposing he has kill'd him with a brick!


s: Among those _lifeless living_ ye display;


s: Then, thro' your palettes thrust your graphick thumbs,--


s: Roger began to wring his hands, and wail;


s: Calling himself, Beast, Butcher, cruel Turk!


s: Thrice, in the eloquence of grief he utter'd;


s: "I've done a pretty job of journey-work!"


s: Some people will shew symptoms of repentance


s: When Conscience, like a chastening Angel, smites 'em;


s: Some from mere dread of the Law's sentence,


s: When Newgate, like the very Devil, frights 'em;--


s: _That_ Virtue's struggles, in the heart, denotes,


s: _This_ Vice's hints, to men's left ears, and throats.


s: Was not, by half, so lively as his fears.


s: Grew like an Hostler's lantern, at an Inn;


s: And feebly blink'd the ray of warmth within.


s: In short, for one of his religious function,


s: His Conscience was both cowardly and callous;


s: No melting Cherub whisper'd to't "Compunction!"


s: But grim Jack Ketch disturb'd it, crying "Gallows!"


s: And all his sorrow, for this deed abhorr'd,


s: A padlock'd door stood in the garden wall,


s: Where John, by Roger's brick-bat, chance'd to fall,


s: Thro' this same door, at any time of day,


s: They brought, into the Convent, corn, and hay;----


s: Sometimes, at dusk, a pretty girl came thro' it:


s: Just to confess herself, to some grave codger;


s: Perhaps, she came to John,--perhaps, to Roger.


s: For, seizing (as the gout was wont) his toes,


s: Achilles, thus, drew round the Trojan plain,


s: The ten years' Adversary he had slain.--


s: Yet,--for I scorn a Grecian to disparage,--


s: Achilles in more style, and splendour, did it;


s: _He_ sported Murder strapp'd behind his carriage,--


s: But _bourgeois_ Roger sneak'd on foot, and hid it.


s: He lugg'd him to the edge of the Knight's moat;


s: And stuck him up so straight upon his rear,


s: Touching, almost, the water, with his heels,


s: That the defunct might pass, not seen too near,


s: For some fat gentleman who bobb'd for eels.


s: Swiftly did Roger, then, retrace his ground,


s: Lighter than he came out, by many a pound.


s: So have I seen, on Marlb'rough downs, a hack,


s: Ease'd of a great man's chaise, and coming back,


s: From Bladud's springs, upon the western road;


s: Whose doom's, that dread of pick-pockets, the pump,


s: He canters home, from Bath, without his load.


s: Sir Thomas being scrupulous, and queasy,


s: Couldn't, in all this interval, be easy.


s: He went to bed;--and, there, began to burn;


s: Nine times he turn'd, in wondrous perturbation;--


s: And gave her, full nine times, complete vexation.


s: To seek the Duke of Limbs, at length, he rose,


s: And prowl'd with him, lamenting Fortune's stripes;


s: Now squashing in the marsh, among the snipes:


s: He wish'd--ere he had clapp'd his eyes on any.


s: All Priests, and Crabsticks, thrown into the fire;--


s: That Priest, and Crabstick, (to his grief) must grow,


s: He wish'd stout Crabstick couldn't kill fat Friar.


s: Men's wishes will be partial, now and then;--


s: Wish'd to burn all the Crabs, and Clergymen.


s: Think ye that _he_,--at wishing tho' a dab,--


s: To wish such harm to any _Knight_ would urge ye?


s: And thump'd to death, with it, one of the Clergy.


s: With the great Duke of Limbs behind him,--


s: Where least of all he ever thought to find him:


s: Like a stuff'd Kangaroo,--tho' vastly fatter,--


s: With the full moon upon his chubby face,


s: Like a brass pot-lid shining on a platter.


s: "'Sdeath!" quoth the Knight, of half his powers bereft,


s: "Didst thou not tell me _where_ this Friar was left?


s: Men rise again, _to push us from our stools_!"


s: To which the Duke replied, with steady phiz,--


s: "Them as took pains to push that Friar from _his_,


s: At such a time o'night, was cursed fools."


s: Shakspeare certainly borrow'd this expression from Sir


s: "Ah!" sigh'd Sir Thomas, "while I wander here,


s: Mingled with Heaven's dew-drops, on the grass;)--


s: "Will no one from my eyes yon Spectre pull?"


s: "Sir Thomas," said the Duke of Limbs, "I wool."


s: He would have thrown the garbage in the moat,


s: But the Knight told him fat was prone to float.


s: The Lout, at length, having bethought him,


s: Heave'd up the Friar on his back once more;


s: Into the Knight's old Armory he brought him.


s: Among the gorgeous, shining Coats of Mail,


s: That grace'd the walls, on high, in gallant shew,--


s: As pewter pots, in houses fame'd for ale,


s: Glitter, above the Bar-maid, in a row,--


s: Though this was all too little,--in a minute,


s: The Duke of Limbs ramm'd the fat Friar in it;


s: So a good Housewife takes a narrow skin,


s: To make black puddings, and stuffs hog's meat in.


s: Inquire'd the meaning; when the Duke did say,--


s: "I'll tie him on ould Dumpling, that's at grass,


s: And turn him out, a top of the highway."


s: This Steed,--who now, it seems, was grazing,--


s: In the French wars had often borne the Knight;--


s: His symmetry beyond the power of praising,


s: Once, how he paw'd the ground, and snuff'd the gale!


s: Uncropp'd his ears, undock'd his flowing tail;


s: No blemish was within him, nor without him;


s: No barbarous Farrier, with infernal art,


s: And sweet hoof'd Beauties still would he be rumpling;


s: But, counting five and twenty from his birth,


s: At grass for life, unwieldy in the girth,


s: He had obtain'd, alas! the name of Dumpling.


s: Now, at the postern stood the gay old Charger;


s: Saddle'd, and house'd,--in full caparison!--


s: Upright, and stiff, and tied with cords, sat John:


s: Arm'd cap-à-pié completely, like a knight


s: A Lance was in the rest, of stately beech:


s: Nothing was wanting, but a Page, or 'Squire;--


s: The Duke, with thistles, switch'd old Dumpling's breech;


s: And off he clatter'd with the martial Friar.


s: Now, in the Convent let us take a peep,--


s: Where Roger, like Sir Thomas, couldn't sleep:


s: Instead of singing requiems, and psalms,


s: For fat John's soul, he had been seize'd with qualms,


s: Thinking it would be rash to tarry there;--


s: And having, prudently, resolve'd on flight,


s: Knock'd up a neighbouring miller, in the night,


s: Thus, trotting off,--beneath a row of trees


s: He saw "a sight that made his marrow freeze!"


s: A furious Warrior follow'd him, in mail,


s: Upon a Charger, close at his Mare's tail!


s: He cross'd himself!--and, canting, cried,


s: Then stuck his heels in his Mare's side;


s: But while he spurr'd, still, still he heard


s: 'Twas dawn!--he look'd behind him, in the chase;


s: Glare'd, ghastly, in the wretched Roger's face!


s: The Miller's Mare, who oft had gone the way,


s: And, there, to all the market-folks' dismay,


s: Old Dumpling beat the mare, with Roger, down.


s: Brief let me be;--the Story soon took air;--


s: For Townsmen are inquisitive, of course,


s: Chase'd by a dead one, arm'd, upon a Horse.


s: Sir Thomas up to London sped, full fast,


s: To beg his life, and lands, of Royal Harry,


s: For, in those days,--thank Heaven they are mended!--


s: Kings hang'd poor Rogues, while rich ones were befriended.


s: Have deign'd (in reading this my story thro')


s: A patient, or impatient, ear to lend me,--


s: 'Tis time to call _my Betters_ to defend me.


s: Come, SWIFT! who made so merry with the Nine;


s: With thy far bolder Muse, Oh, shelter mine!


s: When she is style'd a slattern, and a trollop;--


s: Force stubborn Gravity to doff his gloom;


s: Thy Nymph at bed-time, and thy fame'd Maw-Wallop!


s: Come, STERNE!--whose prose, with all a Poet's art,


s: Tickles the fancy, while it melts the heart!--


s: Come, while fastidious Readers run me hard,


s: And screen, sly playful wag! a hapless Bard,


s: Behind one volume of thy Tristram Shandy!


s: _Ye Two, alone!_--tho' I could bring a score


s: Of brilliant names, and high examples, more--


s: Plead for me, when 'tis said I misbehave me!


s: And, ye, _sour Censors_! in your crabbed fits,


s: Who will not let them rescue me as _Wits_,


s: Prithee, as _Parsons_, suffer 'em to save me!


s: CENTRICK, in London noise, and London follies,


s: Proud Covent Garden blooms, in smoky glory;


s: For chairmen, coffee-rooms, piazzas, dollies,


s: Cabbages, and comedians, fame'd in story!


s: Dwelt a right regular, and staid, young man;--


s: An Orphan he;--yet rich in expectations,


s: (Which nobody seem'd likely to supplant,)


s: From, that prodigious _bore_ of all relations,


s: A fusty, canting, stiff-rump'd Maiden Aunt:


s: Who had brought Isaac up, and _own'd_ to forty.


s: Shove on this maiden's Will relied securely;


s: Who vow'd she ne'er would wed, to mar his riches;


s: Full often would she say of men demurely,--


s: "I can't abide the filthy things in breeches!"


s: He had Apartments up two pair of stairs;


s: On the first floor lodge'd Doctor Crow;--


s: And made a grand display of wigs, below;


s: From the beau's Brutus, to the parson's grizzle:--


s: Over the door-way was his name;--'twas Twizzle.


s: He didn't in Lucina's _turnpike_ practise;


s: He took _bye-roads_,--reducing Ladies' shapes,


s: Who had secure'd themselves from leading apes,


s: Enclose'd with walls, one mile from Hyde Park corner;


s: Fir trees, and yews, were planted round it, thick;--


s: Yet, notwithstanding folks might scout it,


s: It suited qualmish Spinsters, who fell sick,


s: And didn't wish the world to know about it.


s: This seems to be a _new comparative_; for which the Author


s: takes to himself due credit;--Novelty being scarce in poetical


s: _Pro tempore_,--full tender of her fame!


s: Who, for a while, took leave of friends in town;--


s: "Business, forsooth! to Yorkshire call'd her down,


s: Too weighty to be settle'd by Attorney!"--


s: And, in a month's, or six weeks' time, came back!


s: How monstrous _thin_ you've grown, upon your journey!"


s: The Doctor, knowing that a puff of Scandal


s: Would blow his private trade to tatters,


s: To those who dabble in their neighbours' matters;


s: To hide his practice from the neighbourhood,


s: To see the lodgers in the large brick house;--


s: To lounge, and chat, not minding time a souse;--


s: Like one to whom all business was quite foreign;--


s: He lodge'd in Covent Garden all the while,


s: And, if they sent, in haste, for his assistance,


s: He soon was with 'em;--'twas no mighty distance;--


s: From the town's end it was but a bare mile.


s: And knowing Barber Twizzle live'd below,


s: Hearing so many knocks, single and double,


s: To buy, at his own cost, a street-door bell,


s: And save confusion, in the house, and trouble;


s: Whereby his (Isaac's) visitors might know,


s: Without long waiting in the dirt, and drizzle,


s: To ring for him at once;--and not to knock for Crow,--


s: For he had, often, thought it a disgrace


s: To hear, while sitting in his room, above,


s: Twizzle's shrill maid, on the first landing-place,


s: Screaming, "a man below vants Mister Shove!"


s: The bell was bought; the wire was made to steal


s: Round the dark stair-case, like a tortur'd eel,--


s: The jemmy handle Twizzle's door-post grace'd,


s: And, just beneath, a brazen plate was place'd,


s: Graven whereon, in characters full clear,


s: And, furthermore, which you might read right well,


s: At half-past ten, precisely to a second,--


s: And sipp'd his glass of negus, till he reckon'd,


s: By his stop-watch, exactly, one more quarter;


s: Then, as exactly, he untied one garter;--


s: Yet having, still, a quarter good before him,


s: Bating his shirt, and night-cap on his head;--


s: More certainly than cuckolds go to Heaven.


s: But there are swilling Wights, in London town,


s: Term'd--Jolly dogs,--Choice Spirits,--_alias_, Swine,


s: Who pour, in midnight revel, bumpers down,


s: Making their throats a thoroughfare for wine.


s: These spendthrifts, who Life's pleasures, thus, out-run,


s: Dozing, with head-aches, till the afternoon,


s: One of this kidney,--Toby Tosspot hight,--


s: Was coming from the Bedford, late at night:


s: And being _Bacchi plenus_,--full of wine,--


s: Like Monsieur Corkscrew worming thro' a Cork;


s: Not straight, like Corkscrew's proxy, stiff Don Prong,


s: At length, with near four bottles in his pate,


s: He saw the moon shining on Shove's brass plate;


s: When reading, "Please to ring the bell,"


s: Gave it a jerk that almost jerk'd it down.


s: He waited full two minutes; no one came;


s: He waited full two minutes more; and then,--


s: Says Toby, "if he's deaf, I'm not to blame;


s: But the first peal woke Isaac in a fright,


s: Who, quick as lightning, popping up his head,


s: Sat on his head's _Antipodes_, in bed,--


s: At length he, wisely, to himself did say,--


s: "Tush!--'tis some fool has rung, and run away;"--


s: When peal the second rattle'd in his ears!


s: Shove jump'd into the middle of the floor;


s: And, trembling at each breath of air that stirr'd,


s: He grope'd down stairs, and open'd the street door,


s: While Toby was performing peal the third.


s: And saw he was a strapper,--stout, and tall;


s: Then, put this question;--"Pray, Sir, what d'ye want?"


s: Says Toby,--"I want nothing, Sir, at all."


s: "Want nothing!--Sir, you've pull'd my bell, I vow,


s: Quoth Toby,--gravely making him a bow,--


s: "At mine!"--"Yes, yours--I hope I've done it well;


s: High time for bed, Sir; I was hast'ning to it;


s: But if you write up _Please to ring the bell_,


s: Common politeness makes me stop, and do it."


s: And, lifting up the knocker, gave a knock,


s: So long, and loud, it might have raise'd the dead;


s: Twizzle declares his house sustain'd a shock,


s: Went serpentining home, to take his nap.


s: And, knowing that the bell belong'd to Shove,


s: He listen'd in his bed, but did not move;


s: But when he heard a thundering _knock_,--says he,


s: "That's, certainly, a messenger for _me_;--


s: Somebody ill, in the Brick House, no doubt;"--


s: Then mutter'd, hurrying on his dressing-gown,


s: Chose more convenient times for crying out!"


s: Crow, in the dark, now, reached the stair-case head;


s: Shove, in the dark, was coming up to bed.


s: Who argue in the dark, and in confusion;--


s: With an express, from the brick tenement;


s: Had, civilly, let in, and sent up stairs.


s: As Shove came up, tho' he had, long time, kept


s: His character, for patience, very laudably,


s: He couldn't help, at every step he stepp'd,


s: Grunting, and grumbling, in his gizzard, audibly.


s: For Isaac's mental feelings, you must know,


s: Having no other clothing than a shirt;--


s: A dress, beyond all doubt, most light and airy,


s: When Shove was deep down stairs, the Doctor heard,


s: Of the Soliloquies that Shove let drop;--


s: The Doctor, consequently, heard him clearer,--


s: Which Shove repeated warmly, tho' he shiver'd:--


s: "Damn Twizzle's house! and damn the Bell!


s: From all such plagues I'll quickly be deliver'd."


s: "What?--quickly be deliver'd!" echoes Crow;--


s: "Who is it?--Come, be sharp;--reply, reply;


s: Who wants to be deliver'd? let me know."


s: Recovering his surprise, Shove answer'd, "I."


s: Hearing a man's gruff voice--"You lout! you lob!


s: You be deliver'd!--Come, that's very good!"


s: "Fellow," cried Crow, "you're drunk with filthy beer!


s: A drunkard, fellow, is a brute's next neighbour;--


s: But Miss Cloghorty's time was very near,


s: And, I suppose, Lucretia's now in labour."


s: "Zounds!" bellows Shove, with rage and wonder wild,


s: "Why then, my _maiden_ Aunt is _big with child_!"


s: Here was, at once, a sad discovery made!


s: Lucretia's frolick, now, was past a joke;--


s: Shove tremble'd for his Fortune, Crow, his Trade,


s: Both, both saw ruin,--by one fatal stroke;


s: But, with his Aunt, when Isaac did discuss,


s: She hush'd the matter up, by speaking thus:


s: "Sweet Isaac!" said Lucretia, "spare my Fame!--


s: Tho', for my babe, I feel as should a mother,


s: Your Fortune will continue much the same;


s: For,--keep the Secret,--you're his _Elder Brother_."


s: _N.B._ Half our modern Legends are either borrow'd or translated


s: talking of your father, may allude to the _family gallows_, which


s: says Æneas, by way of proem; yet, for a Hero, tolerably "use'd to


s: cries; and, though he begins with a wooden Horse, and gives a


s: general account of the burning of Troy, still the "_quorum pars


s: magna fui_" is, evidently, the great inducement to his


s: chattering:--accordingly, he keeps up Queen Dido to a scandalous


s: irritate others, who are in the habit of labouring under its


s: witnessed. It appears, in this authentick Story, that Sir Thomas


s: Erpingham was married in the reign of Henry the Fifth; and it is


s: evidently intended, that _Moderns_ should believe he writ these


s: all;--but the style and language of the lines are most glaringly


s: inconsistent with their pretended date. The fact is, we have here


s: others;--nay, Harding, Skelton, &c. who were fifty or sixty years


s: presume'd) this Sonnet to be spurious, an apology may be thought


s: necessary for not saying _a great deal more_;--but this Herculean


s: various _Pamphlets in folio_, upon the subject:--and, surely, too


s: "There, dim in clouds, the poring Scholiasts mark,


s: Wits, who, like owls, see only in the dark;


s: For ever reading, never to be read!"--_Dunciad_.


s: If the Knight knew the aptness, in its full extent, of his oath,


s: _rob_ his Lady of her virtue, in a _bower_;--how appropriately,


s: therefore, does he swear by the _God of the Gardens_! who is


s: represented with a kind of _cudgel_ (_falx lignea_) in his right


s: Obscænoque ruber porrectus ab inguine_ PALUS."


s: circumstance by no means disproves its efficacy as a dread to


s: There is a terrible jumble in Somnus's family. He was the son of


s: were always as successful in raising a _Laugh_ as his Lordship's


s: Towns, against any _forum boarium_ of the Romans.


s: _Tarquinius Superbus_, the last King of Rome;--he was a haughty


s: This is a palpable plagiarism. _Rolla_ thus addresses _Pizarro_:


s: occurs in the midst of a strong incident, and is address'd to an


s: Enemy by a proud spirit, in very moving circumstances.


s: THIRTY-SIX PAGES OF PICTURES Printed in Colours by Kronheim. WITH


s: New and old Nursery favourites are here offered to our Young


s: C for the Corn that stands in the stack;


s: D for the Donkey with cross on his back.


s: E for the Engine that's lighted with coke;


s: F for the Funnel that puffs out the smoke.


s: K for the Kitten that plays with its tail;


s: L for the Letter that comes by the mail.


s: N for the Nut that he cracks with a grin.


s: U for the Umbrella that keeps off the rain;


s: Y for the Yew growing by the church wall;


s: So off he marched with his nice new hat,


s: When they came to the door of the Mouse's Hall,


s: They gave a loud knock, and they gave a loud call.


s: "Oh yes, Mr. Rat, I am learning to spin."


s: "Pray Mrs. Mouse, will you give us some beer?


s: For Froggy and I are fond of good cheer."


s: The cat and her kittens came tumbling in.


s: The Cat she seized the rat by the crown,


s: The kittens they pulled the little mouse down.


s: This put poor frog in a terrible fright,


s: So he took up his hat and he wished them good night.


s: As Froggy was crossing him over a brook,


s: A lilly-white duck came and gobbled him up.


s: So there was an end of one, two, and three,


s: The Rat, the Mouse, and the little Froggee?


s: "Little pig, little pig, let me come in."


s: "No, no, by the hair of my chiny chin chin."


s: "Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in."


s: The second little pig met a man with a bundle of furze, and said,


s: "Then I'll puff and I'll huff, and I'll blow your house in."


s: acquainted with the name of the Marquis de Carrabas, and with his


s: The warmth revived the poor thing and it began to fly about; the


s: _Author of "Love Letters of a Violinist," "Vox Amoris," &c._


s: And let the winds caress it, fold on fold,--


s: A stainless flag, and glorious to behold!


s: Of some great storm, it waves its woven joy,


s: In shine or shower, in peace or battle-time.


s: The winds are wild to toss it, and to brag


s: And of the throne where Chivalry has sat


s: And of these happy isles where men are free


s: That calls to us from shore to furthest shore--


s: The thunder-throated, foam-frequented sea


s: That sounds the psalm of Victory evermore!


s: And for this flag of ours which, to the blast,


s: Its glittering width of splendour unsurpassed,--


s: We cry all shame on traitors, high and low,


s: Whose love let no man seek throughout the land,--


s: Traitors who strive, with most degenerate hand,


s: The sun reels up the sky, the mists are gone,


s: Has spread, adoring-wise, as for a prayer,


s: Which never yet were symbols of despair!


s: Song-scented trills and sunlit ecstasies.


s: Aye! 'tis the lark, the chorister in gray,


s: Who sings hosannas to the lord of light,


s: And will not stint the measure of his lay


s: As hour to hour, and joy to joy, succeeds;


s: For he's the morning-mirth of English meads,


s: And we who mark the moving of his wings,


s: We know how sweet the soil whereof he sings,--


s: How glad the grass, how green the summer's thrall,


s: How like a gracious garden the dear Land


s: That loves the ocean and the tossed-up sand


s: And how, in spring and summer, at sun-rise,


s: The birds fling out their raptures to the skies,


s: And have the grace of God upon them all.


s: Up, up, betimes, and proudly speak of it;


s: A lordly thing to see on tower and crag,


s: With eyes a-fire, and wings of phantasy,--


s: The foes we frown upon shall feel the curb


s: Of our full sway; and they shall shaméd be


s: For there's no sight, in summer or in spring,


s: The cheers of Britons, bounden, heart and soul,


s: And he who loves it not, how vile is he!


s: Our ocean-wonder, blue and red and white;


s: Blue as the skies, and red as roses are,


s: And white as foam that flashed at Trafalgàr;


s: Girt with its glory like a guiding-star!


s: The wind has roared in English many a time,


s: And foes have heard it on the frothy main,


s: In many a sea-ward, sun-enamoured clime;


s: For all the hearts of traitors ache with fear


s: When our great ships go forth, as heretofore,


s: The subject-waves of England and the Isles,--


s: Which made our fathers pioneers and lords,


s: May no succession of the days and nights


s: Or careless of our fame, our island-fame,


s: Which is the name we bow to in our thought,


s: In lands that love the languors of the sun,


s: And where the moon is marvelled at for hours!


s: The flags of nations are the ocean-flowers,


s: And ours the dearest, ours the brightest one,


s: When they remember isles beyond the dawn


s: For there's no flag afloat upon the wind


s: Can wave so high, or show so fair a front,


s: Or gleam so proudly in the battle-brunt,


s: A thousand times the full-tongued hurricane


s: Has bellowed forth its menace o'er the deep;


s: When sleep the wrought-up rancours of the age


s: Which none in all the world shall put to shame,


s: And was, from first to last, the symbol true


s: High, high the flag, for England's sake and ours,


s: And what it means, in war time, and in peace


s: Its glorious folds out-fluttering in the gale,


s: Of deeds heroic, wrought at Duty's call!


s: The wind's our trumpeter; and east and west,


s: And north and south, all day, as on a quest


s: Of mirth and marvel,--all the live-long day


s: And all the pomp and pageant of the Sea!


s: JUST READY: _Author's Edition, Crown 8vo., Price 5s. nett._


s: 'The giant-singer who did storm the gates


s: Was neither long, nor square, nor round,


s: Their teeth were sharp, their eyes were bright;


s: "Can this meek creature prove," said he,


s: And view'd poor Streak with glad surprise,


s: If you do not attend to your parents' advice,


s: You may come to sad fate, like the two little mice.


s: Once it happened, though when, is not easily said,


s: That a grunter, Jack Pig, took it into his head


s: To quit his good home,--his dear mother to leave,


s: Not thinking at all how for him she would grieve.


s: Said Jack, "Brother Bob for his pleasure has strayed;


s: I'll roam away, too, when I'm nicely arrayed:"


s: Next morn he set off in a hat and wig dressed;--


s: The same that the farmer's son wore as his best.


s: Saying--"I shall not lodge here to-night."


s: But, 'midst their noise he heard a squeal;


s: "Her son," said he, "so tall, she'll never know,


s: Dressed smartly as I am, so like a beau."


s: His heart beat quickly as his ma' he passed,


s: But, bowing, "How d'ye do, good dame?" he asked;


s: Then biting from out the hedge a nice cane,


s: And putting his hat on, said "All's right again;


s: Now over the world I'll roam, as fast as I can:"


s: Then he flourished his cane, and onward he ran.


s: And trotting on briskly, Piggy soon came


s: To a field where some schoolboys were having a game;


s: Said he, "As I'm tired, I'll lie down to rest,


s: And perhaps if I do so, just here 'twill be best:


s: For I should not much like these poor boys to disturb,


s: As they possibly might be so very absurd


s: As to leave off their game, for respect towards me,


s: No occasion for which I can possibly see."


s: But, just then, a boy spied him, and giving a call,


s: Thus said to his comrades, "Come here, my lads, all."


s: Then they left off their play, and they chased the poor pig,


s: Until he had lost both his hat and his wig.


s: They left him, at last, overcome with fatigue;


s: "Though," said he, "it is not for myself that I grieve,


s: But to think of the manners of these country clowns!


s: Such conduct would never be met with in towns."


s: To get back his wig, he was greatly perplexed,


s: About which and his hat, he was equally vexed;


s: For the wind, when the boys were hardest in chase,


s: Blew them both in the river, its surface to grace;


s: And they seemed to mock Piggy, as there they did float;


s: "But I'll have you," said Jack, who pushed off in a boat;


s: When his finery reaching, the boat he upset,


s: "I can swim," cried the blade, "and I don't mind the wet."


s: But, beside his own hide, both his wig and his hat


s: Were wet and deranged; so, to remedy that,


s: "I'll enter this cottage; here's a fire," he said,


s: "I'll hang them to dry, while I lie in the bed."


s: When the dame returned home, as he slumbered so snug,


s: She soon spied the gentleman under the rug,


s: And basted him well with a stick like a log,


s: Turning him and his wardrobe out into a bog.


s: In the miry mess Piggy long struggled about,


s: And crept to a field where fine cabbages grew:


s: "I'm hungry," said he, "I'll indulge in a few."


s: When, just as his snout had a nice plant uptorn,


s: A shot through his ear he had reason to mourn,


s: Discharged from the gun of a lad stationed there,


s: To take care of the crop, and all robbers to scare.


s: Wounded, weary, and hungry, poor Jack now felt sad,


s: And thought of the home, so safe he once had,


s: Where he'd plenty of food, and clean straw for his bed,


s: And at night, a roof of good thatch o'er his head.


s: He escaped from the field, though he scarcely knew how,


s: And scampered as fast as his strength would allow:


s: In the distance, a town, long and wide he could see;


s: "Ah! ah!" said Jack Swine, "that's the quarter for me."


s: Then Jack hurried on to the city so gay,


s: Where he walked through the streets in his comic array;


s: But think of his horror, oh! think of his dread,


s: When, hanging immediately over his head,


s: In the first butcher's shop that he chanced to discover,


s: Were the mortal remains of poor Bobby, his brother,


s: "'Tis sad," sighed our Jack, "such a difference should be


s: Between that unfortunate fellow and me."


s: But now I have hardly the heart to relate


s: To my dear little readers, the terrible fate


s: That awaited poor Jack. Scarce a moment had passed,