He has taen three locks o' her yellow hair, And he brought the harp to her father's hall, He laid this harp upon a stone, And straight it began to play alone. "O yonder sits my father, the king! 66 And yonder sits my mother, the queen! And yonder stands my brother Hugh, And by him my William sweet and true!” But the last time that the harp played then, Was, "Woe to my sister, false Helen!" CHAMBERS's SCOTTISH BALLADS. Helvellyn. I CLIMBED the dark brow of the mighty Helvellyn, And starting around me the echoes replied. On the right, Striden-edge round the Red-tarn was bending, And Catchedicam its left verge was defending, One huge nameless rock in the front was ascending, When I marked the sad spot where the wanderer had died. Dark green was the spot 'mid the brown meadow heather, How long didst thou think that his silence was slumber? When a prince to the fate of the peasant has yielded, And pages stand mute by the canopied pall : Through the courts, at deep midnight, the torches are gleaming, But meeter for thee, gentle lover of nature, To lay down thy head like the meek mountain lamb, When, wildered, he drops from some cliff huge in stature, And draws his last sob by the side of his dam And more stately thy couch by this desert lake lying, SCOTT. Complaint of being Pestered by Bad Poets. FROM THE EPISTLE TO DR. ARBUTHNOT. SHUT, shut the door, good John! fatigued I said, Fire in each eye, and papers in each hand, What walls can guard me, or what shades can hide? Even Sunday shines no Sabbath day to me; Is there a parson much bemused in beer, Is there, who, locked from ink and paper, scrawls Arthur, whose giddy son neglects the laws, Friend to my life! (which did not you prolong, With honest anguish and an aching head; And drop at last, but in unwilling ears, This saving counsel, "Keep your piece nine years." "Nine years!" cries he, who high in Drury-lane, Lulled by soft zephyrs through the broken pane, Rhymes ere he wakes, and prints before term ends, Obliged by hunger,—and request of friends: “The piece, you think, is incorrect? why take it; "I'm all submission; what you'd have it, make it." Three things another's modest wishes bound, My friendship, and a prologue, and ten pound. Pitholeon sends to me: "You know his Grace; "I want a patron; ask him for a place." Pitholeon libelled me-"but here's a letter "Informs you, Sir, 't was when he knew no better. Dare you refuse him? Curll invites to dine; “He'll write a journal, or he 'll turn divine.” Bless me! a packet.—" "T is a stranger sues, "A virgin tragedy, an orphan muse." If I dislike it, "furies, death, and rage!" If I approve," commend it to the stage." There (thank my stars) my whole commission ends, Fired that the house reject him, " 'S death I 'll print it, "And shame the fools-your interest, Sir, with Lintot.” 66 Lintot, dull rogue! will think your price too much :" "Not, Sir, if you revise it, and retouch." All my demurs but double his attacks: At last he whispers, "Do, and we go snacks." The Spring. Now that the winter 's gone, the earth has lost POPE. |