CCXLVIII.

BOWLES.

(II.)

AT

BAMBOROUGH CASTLE.

YE holy Towers that shade the wave-worn steep
Long may ye rear your aged brows sublime,
Though, hurrying silent by, relentless Time
Assail you, and the winter whirlwind's sweep:

2.

For far from blazing Grandeur's crowded halls
Here Charity hath fixt her chosen seat;

Oft listening tearful when the wild winds beat
With hollow bodings round yon antient Walls.

3.

And Pity, at the dark and stormy hour

Of Midnight, when the Moon is hid on high, Keeps her lone watch upon the top-most tower And turns her ear to each expiring cry;

Blest if her aid some fainting wretch might save,

And snatch him, cold and speechless, from the wave.

CCXLIX.

TO

JOHN CARTWRIGHT, ESQ.

ON HIS WORK ENTITLED,
"ENGLAND'S ÆGIS."

CARTWRIGHT, The ÆGIS heavenly WISDOM's Hand
To ALFRED gave, to JONES, and thence to THEE,
Would guard our Nation, calm and bold and free:
With this BRITANNIA on her open strand
Might front invading Myriads: EUROPE mann'd
Against her were avail-less, as the Sea

Against her aweful Rocks. Her Liberty
Itself the Shield of her Defence should stand.

2.

Nor is there, but in LIBERTY, Defence
To last, or to be trusted. The Pretence

Of Armies paid to guard a trembling State
Fails in the Hour of Trial; or will fall

On whom it guards resistless :-Ere too late BRITANNIA, trust thyself:-by ALL defending All. 15 Apr. 1806. C. L.

CCL.

*

ON THE DEATH OF JAMES BARRY 9

THE EVER MEMORABLE PAINTER OF THE SERIES REPRESENTING THE PROGRESS OF SOCIETY,

IN THE ROOMS OF THE INSTITUTION OF ARTS, TRADE, AND MANUFACTURES,

ADELPHI,

LONDON.

BARRY, thy Death appalls me.-Still there are
Who well can imitate the Form, the Face,
And what they see of Beauty and of Grace
Transfer to canvas with successful Care.
But who like thee, with Spirit free as Air

Happy those high ideal Charms to trace,

Those Forms divine which spring from the embrace Of GENIUS pair'd with VIRTUE,—who shall dare, Glancing through every Age and every Clime, Ranging the empyrean heights sublime

To paint the godlike Lineaments of Mind; Of Poets, Heroes, Sages, Patriots, give, That wondrous SERIES which must ever live, Thine Art's true Glory, Lesson to Mankind. 8 Apr. 1806. C. L.

22 Feb. 1806. ET. LXIV.

1

XXIV.

SEWARD.
(LVII.)

WRITTEN THE NIGHT PRECEDING THE FUNERAL

OF MRS. CHARLES BUCKERIDGE.

IN the chill silence of the winter Eve

Through Lichfield's darken'd streets I bend my way By that sad Mansion where NERINA's clay Awaits the Morning Knell: and aw'd perceive In the late bridal Chamber the clear ray

Of numerous Lights; while o'er the ceiling stray Shadows of those who frequent pass beneath

Round the PALE DEAD!-What sounds my senses grieve!

2.

For now the busy hammer's stroke appalls
That in "dread note of preparation" falls

Closing the sable lid!-With sighs I bear
Those solemn Warnings from the House of Woes;
Pondering how late, for young NERINA, there,
Joyous, the love-illumin'd Morn arose.

LXXVI.

BY

MRS. OPIE,

DURING A WINTER STORM.

HEPTATONE.

ELEGIAC.

POWER of the aweful WIND whose hollow blast
Hurls Desolation wide, thy sway I hail:
It o'er the Scene around can Beauties cast
Superior far to aught that Summer's Gale
Bids in the ripening Year to bloom awake.
To view thy majesty the chearful Tale,
The Dance, the festive Song, I pleas'd forsake,

2.

And through thy sparkling scenes I stray alone
Now the pale Regent of thy splendid Night
Decks with her yellow rays thy snowy throne.
Richly her beams on Summer's mantle light;
Richly they gild chill Autumn's tawny vest:

But ah, to me they shine more chastely bright
Spangling the icy robe that wraps thy Breast*.

*POEMS. p. 1. London. 1802.

* It has been thought proper by Mr. Lofft to reprint these two Sonnets in order that the rhythmical arrangement of the verses may be correct. At the same time he has chosen that they should not be cancell'd in the places where they before stood: as this would have been prejudicial in the Binding, and is unnecessary.

END OF VOL. I.