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VII.

I crave not much, yet as I wend along

Those classic shores, and revel in those scenes
You priz'd and hallow'd in thy lofty song;
"Twere charity, and so our Alice1 weens,
To aid me with thy soul-inspiring means;
Pray beckon hither from Bæotia's rill,
Thy rapt Calliope, who safest screens

From Critic lash; so may I still fulfil

The hopes which some few harbour from this quill.

VIII.

The sun at length, the wind too in the west,

And the black ruffian clouds which yet remain,

In which the creeping creature man

Loves punily to dwell:
Indignantly you soar'd abroad,

And had you left the base abode

For ever, it were well;

But stooping from a sphere of pride,

Pollution touch'd you and you died."

1 A near relation of the Author.

2 The daughter of Jupiter and Mnemosyne, and who presided over

Eloquence and Heroic Poetry.

Fine weather.

Dordrecht.

Scud eastward this the best and surest test,

That hence shall quickly hie the hateful rain;
And though the moon (albeit term'd serene)
Has told a fib, the more shall we confide

In that far nobler orb.-So, once again,
Let us rejoice, as through the flood we glide,
And hail thee, sever'd Dordrecht1, by our side.

IX.

Not fairest, no, nor meanest, of the towns
Which crowd and beautify Batavia's land;
How many boisterous feuds, and ups and downs,
How many changes say, of head and hand,
Hast thou beheld; since 'neath the potent wand,

1 Dordrecht, and the little island on which it stands, are said to have been separated from the opposite shore, by an inundation which happened in 1421.—The town is famous for a Protestant Synod held here in 1618, when the doctrines of Arminius were condemned; it is said to have been founded by the great Merovius, who defeated Attila in 451, and who was for some time its Governor. In days of yore, the Counts of Holland held their courts at Dordrecht; at present, it is chiefly distinguished as being a rendezvous for those immense floats, which frequently descend the Rhine, and which consist chiefly of timber procured at Andernach, and other places on its banks; they are sometimes upwards of 1000 feet long, and 500 broad, and consequently of great value.

Of bold Merovius, you rose and grew,

To power and place ?-thy butter in demand: They call thy Islet ancient-and 'tis true.

Good luck to Islands! we have one or two

X.

A sail in sight! full sweeping round the reach
Of yonder copse-a sail! nay not so fast :
And here now let me, once for all beseech,
You do not take a chimney for a mast:

See how the Royal Frederick rushes past,
With noble speed-she down the stream doth go,
We toiling up, and both shall win at last.-
Such is the life of man, still rising slow,

Declining quick, like arrow from a bow.

XI.

By all that's beautiful, 'tis she !-it is

It is Ianthè! sure the glow of youth,

With its best heart-endearing sympathies,

Were ne'er more glorious given, or with more truth ;

Ianthè.

She joyous waves her hand-that hand in sooth,

So oft extended to the indigent ;

Sure they were cold, unfeeling, and uncouth,
Who would not hail her almost angel sent,

From heaven on some sweet pious mission bent.

XII.

Travelling.

And who so graceful, paces by the prow?
The matron mother-her accomplish'd lord,
So long the terror of his country's foe,—

His country's pride !—had left a soldier's sword,
To sleep within its scabbard, when the horde
Of bold barbarians kiss'd the dust, or fled

Discomfited and England could afford,

To let her sons go travel; so he, glad

To join the curious throng, had lately led

XIII.

A somewhat wandering life; but sage, sedate,

And not like many others unemploy'd,

In elegant pursuit, or seeking state,

And empty show, till listless grown and cloy'd;

He, knowing what was best to be enjoyed,

Had sought in classic lore, and attic taste,

Ianthè's bright accomplishment—nor toy'd

Too long with siren music; hence how chaste

This precious gem! how pure! how richly grac❜d.

XIV.

On, onward Royal Frederick1, for thou hast

A treasure of no common cast-so soon
Shall Greville to his arms receive 2, this best,
This loveliest woman, as a heavenly boon;
Who can at once adorn the gay saloon,

And rouse conviction in the conscious breast,
By her sweet intellect :
a brilliant noon,

Array'd in blushing morn!-so stood confess'd,
That Dian, whom the Greeks ador'd and bless'd.

Female Excellence.

1 The name of the steam-vessel that was descending the Rhine.

2 This episode has been introduced from the circumstance of one of the passengers on board the Kaiser, having perceived on the deck of the Frederick, as she passed, an accomplished and interesting young friend proceeding to England, to be married to a gentleman to whom she had been long betrothed.

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