Yet not the senate's thunder thou shalt wield, The world admire thee, and thy friends adore; Now last, but nearest, of the social band, See honest, open, generous Cleon stand; With scarce one speck to cloud the pleasing scene, No vice degrades that purest soul serene. On the same day our studious race begun, On the same day our studious race was run; Thus side by side we pass'd our first career, Thus side by side we strove for many a year, At last concluded our scholastic life, We neither conquer'd in the classic strife: As speakers, each supports an equal name.* And crowds allow to both a partial fame: To soothe a youthful rival's early pride, Though Cleon's candour would the palm divide, Yet candour's self compels me now to own Justice awards it to my friend alone. Oh! friends regretted, scenes for ever dear. The praise is due, who made that fame my own. It finds an echo in each youthful breast; Ida! not yet exhausted is the theme, Nor closed the progress of my youthful dream. This alludes to the public speeches delivered at he school where the author was educated. How many a friend deserves the grateful strain! Ida! still o'er thy hills in joy preside, And proudly steer through time's eventful tide; Still may thy blooming sons thy name revere, Smile in thy bower, but quit thee with a tear,That tear, perhaps, the fondest which will flow O'er their last scene of happiness below. Tell me, ye hoary few, who glide along, The feeble veterans of some former throng, Whose friends, like autumn leaves by tempests whirl'd, Are swept for ever from this busy world; Revolve the fleeting moments of your youth, While Care as yet withheld her venom'd tooth; Say if remembrance days like these endears Beyond the rapture of succeeding years? Say, can ambition's fever'd dream bestow So sweet a balm to soothe your hours of woe? Can treasures, hoarded for some thankless son, Can royal smiles, or wreaths by slaughter won, Can stars or ermine, man's maturer toys, (For glittering baubles are not left to boys), Recall one scene so much beloved to view As those where Youth her garland twined for you? Ah, no! amidst the gloomy calm of age You turn with faltering hand life's varied page; Peruse the record of your days on earth, Unsullied only where it marks your birth; Still lingering pause above each chequer'd leaf, And blot with tears the sable lines of grief; Where Passion o'er the theme her mantle threw, Or weeping Virtue sigh'd a faint adieu; But bless the scroll which fairer words adorn, Traced by the rosy finger of the morn; When Friendship bow'd before the shrine of Truth, And Love, without his pinion, smiled on youth.* His joy or grief, his weal or woe, Perchance may 'scape the page of fame; Yet nations now unborn will know The record of his deathless name. The patriot's and the poet's frame The lustre of a beauty's eye Assumes the ghastly stare of death; Once more the speaking eye revives, She died, but ne'er will die again. The rolling seasons pass away, And Time, untiring, waves his wing, Whilst honour s laurels ne'er decay, But bloom in fresh, unfading spring. All, all must sleep in grim repose, Collected in the silent tomb; The old and young, with friends and foes, The mouldering marble lasts its day, The wrecks of pillar'd pride remain. What, though the sculpture be destroy'd, A bright renown shall be enjoy'd Then do not say the common lot Of all lies deep in Lethe's wave, Some few who ne'er will be forgot Shall burst the bondage of the grave. LINES The fire in the cavern of Etna conceal'd, Still mantles unseen in its secret recess : No torrent can quench it, no bounds can repress. Oh! thus the desire in my bosom for fame, Bids me live but to hope for posterity's praise. For the life of a Fox, of a Chatham the death, Their lives did not end when they yielded their breath; Yet why should I mingle in Fashion's full herd? I have tasted the sweets and the bitters of love: Deceit is a stranger as yet to my soul: I still am unpractised to varnish the truth: THE DEATH OF CALMAR AND ORLA. AN IMITATION OF MACPHERSON'S OSSIAN.* DEAR are the days of youth! Age dwells on their remembrance through the mist of time. In the twilight he recalls the sunny hours of morn. He lifts his spear with trembling hand. 'Not thus feebly did I raise the steel before my fathers! Past is the race of heroes. But their fame rises on the harp; their souls ride on the wings of the wind; they hear the sound through the sighs of the storm, and rejoice in their hall of clouds! Such is Calmar. The grey stone ON marks his narrow house. He looks down from eddying tempests: he rolls his form in the whirlwind, and hovers on the blast of the mountain. ADDRESSED TO THE REV. J. T. BECHER, WITH SOCIETY. DEAR Becher, you tell me to mix with mankind; Did the senate or camp my exertions require, Perchance I may strive to distinguish my birth. and in more modern times the fame of Marlborough, Frederick the Great, Count Saxe, Charles of Sweden, etc., are familiar to every historical reader; but the exact places of their birth are known to a very small proportion of their admirers. In Morven dwelt the chief; a beam of war to Fingal. His steps in the field were marked in blood. Lochlin's sons had fled before his angry spear: but mild was the eye of Calmar; soft was the flow of his yellow locks: they streamed like the meteor of the night. No maid was the sigh of his soul: his thoughts were given to friendship,-to dark-haired Orla, destroyer of heroes! Equal were their swords in battle; but fierce was the pride of Orla:-gentle alone to Calmar. Together they dwelt in the cave of Oithona. From Lochlin, Swaran bounded o'er the blue This story, though considerably varied in the catastrophe, is taken from Nisus and Euryalus, of which episode a translation is already given. waves. Erin's sons fell beneath his might. Fingal the gale sighs on the rocks above. Lightly wheel the roused his chiefs to combat. Their ships cover the heroes through the slumbering band. Half the jour. ocean. Their hosts throng on the green hills. They ney is past, when Mathon, resting on his shield, meets come to the aid of Erin. the eye of Orla. It rolls in flame, and glistens through Night rose in clouds. Darkness veils the armies: the shade. His spear is raised on high. Why dost but the blazing oaks gleam through the valley. The thou bend thy brow, chief of Oithena? said fairsons of Lochlin slept: their dreams were of blood. haired Calmar: 'we are in the midst of foes. Is this They lift the spear in thought, and Fingal flies. Not a time for delay! It is a time for vengeance,' said so the host of Morven. To watch was the post of Orla of the gloomy brow. Mathon of Lochlin sleeps: Orla. Calmar stood by his side. Their spears were seest thou his spear? Its point is dim with the gore in their hands. Fingal called his chiefs: they stood of my father. The blood of Mathon shall reek on around. The king was in the midst. Grey were his mine; but shall I slay him sleeping, son of Mora? locks, but strong was the arm of the king. Age No! he shall feel his wound: my fame shall not soar withered not his powers. Sons of Morven,' said the on the blood of slumber. Rise, Mathon, rise! The hero, 'to-morrow we meet the foe. But where is son of Conna calls; thy life is his; rise to combat.' Cuthullin the shield of Erin? He rests in the halls of Mathon starts from sleep; but did he rise alone? Tura; he knows not of our coming. Who will speed No; the gathering chiefs bound on the plain. Fly! through Lochlin to the hero, and call the chief to Calmar, fly!' said dark-haired Orla. 'Mathon is arms? The path is by the swords of foes; but many mine: I shall die in joy: but Lochlin crowds around. are my heroes. They are thunderbolts of war. Fly through the shade of night.' Orla turns. The Speak, ye chiefs! Who will arise?' helm of Mathon is cleft; his shield falls from his arm: 'Son of Trenmor! mine be the deed,' said dark-he shudders in his blood. He rolls by the side of the haired Orla, and mine alone. What is death to me? blazing oak. Strumon sees him fall: his wrath rises: I love the sleep of the mighty, but little is the danger. his weapon glitters on the head of Orla: but a spear The sons of Lochlin dream. I will seek car-borne pierced his eye. His brain gushes through the wound, Cuthullin. If I fall, raise the song of bards; and lay and foams on the spear of Calmar. As roll the waves me by the stream of Lubar.'-' And shalt thou fall of the ocean on two mighty barks of the north, so alone?' said fair-haired Calmar. Wilt thou leave thy pour the men of Lochlin on the chiefs. As, breaking friend afar? Chief of Oithona! not feeble is my arm the surge in foam, proudly steer the barks of the in fight. Could I see thee die, and not lift the spear? north, so rise the chiefs of Morven on the scattered No, Orla! ours has been the chase of the roebuck, crests of Lochlin. The din of arms came to the ear and the feasts of shells; ours be the path of danger: of Fingal. He strikes his shield; his sons throng ours has been the cave of Oithona; ours be the around; the people pour along the heath. Ryno narrow dwelling on the banks of Lubar.' 'Calmar,' bounds in joy. Ossian stalks in his arms. Oscar said the chief of Oithona, 'why should thy yellow shakes the spear. The eagle wing of Fillan floats on locks be darkened in the dust of Erin? Let me fall the wind. Dreadful is the clang of death! many are alone. My father dwells in his hall of air: he will the widows of Lochlin ! Morven prevails in its rejoice in his boy; but the blue-eyed Mora spreads strength. the feast for her son in Morven. She listens to the Morn glimmers on the hills: no living foe is seen; steps of the hunter on the heath, and thinks it is the but the sleepers are many; grim they lie on Erin. tread of Calmar. Let her not say, "Calmar has The breeze of ocean lifts their locks; yet they do not fallen by the steel of Lochlin: he died with gloomy awake. The hawks scream above their prey. Orla, the chief of the dark brow." Why should tears Whose yellow locks wave o'er the breast of a chief! dim the azure eye of Mora? Why should her voice Bright as the gold of the stranger, they mingle with curse Orla, the destroyer of Calmar? Live, Calmar! the dark hair of his friend. 'Tis Calmar: he lies on Live to raise my stone of moss; live to revenge me in the bosom of Orla. Theirs is one stream of blood. the blood of Lochlin. Join the song of bards above Fierce is the look of the gloomy Orla. He breathes my grave. Sweet will be the song of death to Orla not; but his eye is still a fiame. It glares in death from the voice of Calmar. My ghost shall smile on unclosed. His hand is grasped in Calmar's; but the notes of praise.' 'Orla,' said the son of Mora, Calmar lives! he lives, though low. Rise,' said the 'could I raise the song of death to my friend? Could king, 'rise, son of Mora: 'tis mine to heal the wounds I give his fame to the winds? No, my heart of heroes. Calmar may yet bound on the hills of would speak in sighs: faint and broken are the Morven.' sounds of sorrow. Orla! our souls shall hear the song together. One cloud shall be ours on high: the bards will mingle the names of Orla and Calmar.' 'Never more shall Calmar chase the deer of Morven with Orla,' said the hero. What were the chase to me alone? Who should share the spoils of battle with Calmar? Orla is at rest! Rough was thy soul, They quit the circle of the chiefs. Their steps are to the host of Lochlin. The dying blaze of oak dim Orla! yet soft to me as the dew of morn. It glared twinkles through the night. The northern star points on others in lightning: to me a silver beam of night. the path to Tura. Swaran, the king, rests on his Bear my sword to blue-eyed Mora; let it hang in my lonely hill. Here the troops are mixed: they frown empty hall. It is not pure from blood: but it could in sleep; their shields beneath their heads. Their not save Orla. Lay me with my friend. Raise the swords gleam at distance in heaps. The fires are song when I am dark !' faint; their embers fail in smoke. All is hush'd; but They are laid by the stream of Lubar. Four grey stones mark the dwelling of Orla and Calmar. When Swaran was bound, our sails rose on the blue waves. The winds gave our barks to Morven :-the bards raised the song. Whose What form rises on the roar of clouds? dark ghost gleams on the red streams of tempests? His voice rolls on the thunder. 'Tis Orla, the brown chief of Oithona. He was unmatched in war. Peace to thy soul, Orla! thy fame will not perish. Nor thine, Calmar! Lovely wast thou, son of blue-eyed Mora; but not harmless was thy sword. It hangs in thy cave. The ghosts of Lochlin shriek around its steel. Hear thy praise, Calmar ! It dwells on the voice of the mighty. Thy name shakes on the echoes of Morven. Then raise thy fair locks, son of Mora, Spread them on the arch of the rainbow; and smile, through the tears of the storm.' TO EDWARD NOEL LONG, ESQ. 'Nil ego contulerim jocundo sanus amico.HORACE. DEAR Long, in this sequester'd scene, In Granta's vale the pedant's lore; Our raptured visions as before, Yes, I will hope that Time's broad wing But ne'er forget another's woe. Yes, as you knew me in the days O'er which Remembrance yet delays, Still may I rove, untutor'd, wild, And even in age at heart a child. Though now on airy visions borne, To you my soul is still the same. Oft has it been my fate to mourn, And all my former joys are tame. But hence! ye hours of sable hue! Your frowns are gone, my sorrows o'er: By every bliss my childhood knew, I'll think upon your shade no more. Thus, when the whirlwind's rage is past, And caves their sullen roar enclose, We heed no more the wintry blast, When lull'd by zephyr to repose. Full often has my infant Muse Attuned to love her languid lyre; But now, without a theme to choose, The strains in stolen sighs expire. My youthful nymphs, alas! are flown: E is a wife, and C a mother, And Carolina sighs alone, And Mary's given to another; Can now no more my love recall: These last should be confined to one. The aid which once improved their light, And bade them burn with fiercer glow, Now quenches all their sparks in night; Thus has it been with passion's fires, As many a boy and girl remembers, While all the force of love expires, Extinguish'd with the dying embers. But now, dear Long, 'tis midnight's noon, Has thrice perform'd her stated round, Has thrice retraced her path of light, And chased away the gloom profound, I trust that we, my gentle friend, While many a tale of former day -- TO A LADY. OH! had my fate been join'd with thine, As once this pledge appear'd a token, These follies had not then been mine, For then my peace had not been broken. To thee these early faults I owe, To thee, the wise and old reproving: They know my sins, but do not know 'Twas thine to break the bonds of loving. For once my soul, like thine, was pure, And all its rising fires could smother. But now thy vows no more endure, Bestow'd by thee upon another. Perhaps his peace I could destroy, And spoil the blisses that await him; Yet let my rival smile in joy, For thy dear sake I cannot hate him. Ah! since thy angel form is gone, My heart no more can rest with any; But what it sought with thee alone, Attempts, alas! to find in many. Then fare thee well, deceitful maid! Yet all this giddy waste of years, This tiresome round of palling pleasures These varied loves, these matrons' fears, These thoughtless strains to passion's measures If thou wert mine, had all been hush'd ;This cheek now pale from early riot, With passion's hectic ne'er had flush'd, But bloom'd in calm domestic quiet. Yes, once the rural scene was sweet, But now I seek for other joys: To think would drive my soul to madness; In thoughtless throngs and empty noise I conquer half my bosom's sadness. Yet, even in these a thought will steal In spite of every vain endeavourAnd fiends might pity what I feel To know that thou art lost for ever. I WOULD I WERE A CARELESS CHILD. I hate the slaves that cringe around. I ask but this-again to rove Through scenes my youth hath known before. Few are my years, and yet I feel The world was ne'er design'd for me: A visionary scene of bliss! I loved-but those I loved are gone: How dull! to hear the voice of those Whom rank or chance, whom wealth or power, Have made, though neither friends nor foes. Associates of the festive hour. Give me again a faithful few, In years and feelings still the same, And woman, lovely woman! thou, This busy scene of splendid woe, Sassenach, or Saxon, a Gaelic word, signifying either Lowland or English. +And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.-Psalm Iv. 6. |