CONTENTS. THE Senior-Developement of the Poetic Faculty-Design and Execu- Celebration-Conclusion. YOUTH OR SCENES FROM THE PAST. BOOK THIRD. THE SENIOR. The fields, e'en now, are white with waving grain : And cradle largely, on the cultured plain, The rich ripe harvest that thy toil must win. My senior year was studious, bent to gain Whate'er my careless hours had lost before; Industrious, to make good the needed store Of studies, valued now, though urged in vain By age on greener years. The idle train Of confident and vaunting thoughts, no more, By time now more assured. The Senior feels Claims precedence; but deeply conscious now, Labour is written on his thoughtful brow. DESIGN AND EXECUTION. "He spake, and it was done!" not so Performance is at best the halting slave Th' unfinished Eneid from devouring flames, So far his high performance fell below His mind's proud aim! and hence the tears that flow Their inspirations, and perhaps the best."* These "mute inglorious Miltons,"‡ know to blend, # Byron. † Wordsworth. Gray. In their own bosoms, harmonies that lend To life enchantment: skilled o'er all to fling The magic of romance, self-satisfied, They ask not ampler scope for power or pride; "Unlaurelled upon earth,"* they spread their wing For loftier flight, rejoiced to leave behind "That last infirmity of noble mind,"+ The weakness that, in fame, seeks guerdon due To generous aims; which Genius still should find In his own joyous thoughts and feelings true. II. There is a pleasure in poetic pains, Not for applause of men, or triumphs vain There triumph still, what matters it to him That others scorn his raptures, or would fain, With envy's murky cloud, his glories dim? Little heeds he, that blind old bard, whose dreams Nightly Urania visits, with bright gleams Surpassing mortal, what the Belial crew Of earth-prone grovellers of his vision deems: Enough for him, that still bright fancy teems; He asks not audience large, but fit, though few. * Byron. + Milton. BENEFACTIONS OF GENIUS. Tis to create, and in creating live BYRON. Yet has true genius still the generous aim To share its treasures with the world of men : And hence each wrapt enthusiast of the pen, That small, but potent instrument of fame, Traces, in lines of light and living flame, Bright forms of fancy, to the vulgar ken They live forever, peopling each low glen THE PROPHET S. They grow like the cedar of Lebanon Even in old age, they bring forth fruit; NOYES' PSALMS. The Hebrew bards and prophets, in my breast First roused poetic feeling, while I mused |