Your shepherds, your flocks, those fantastical themes, Perhaps may amuse, yet they never can move: Arcadia displays but a region of dreams; What are visions like these to the first kiss of love? Oh! cease to affirm that man, since his birth, And Eden revives in the first kiss of love. When age chills the blood, when our pleasures are For pastyears fleet away with the wings of the doveThe dearest remembrance will still be the last, Our sweetest memorial the first kiss of love. ON A CHANGE OF MASTERS AT A GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOL. (1) WHERE are those honours, Ida! once your own, (1) In March, 1805, Dr. Drury retired from his situation of head-master at Harrow, and was succeeded by Dr. Butler.-E. (2) Dr. Drury, whom I plagued sufficiently, was the best, the kindest (and yet strict, too) friend I ever had; and I look upon him still as a father. Diary. Of narrow brain, yet of a narrower soul, July, 1805. TO THE DUKE OF DORSET. (2) DORSET! whose early steps with mine have stray'd, Whom still affection taught me to defend, (1) At Harrow I was a most unpopular boy, but led latterly, and have retained many of my school friendships, and all my dislikes — except to Dr. Butler, whom I treated rebelliously, and have been sorry ever since. -Diary. [The reconciliation which took place between him and Dr. Butler, before his departure for Greece, in 1809, is (says Moore) "one of those instances of placability and pliableness with which his life abounded. Not content with this private atonement to the Doctor, it was his intention, had he published another edition of the Hours of Idleness, to substitute, for the offensive verses against that gentleman, a frank avowal of the wrong he had been guilty of in giving vent to them."-E.] (2) In looking over my papers to select a few additional poems for this second edition, I found the above lines, which I had totally forgotten, composed in the summer of 1805, a short time previous to my departure from Harrow. They were addressed to a young schoolfellow of high rank, who Though the harsh custom of our youthful ban E'en now a name illustrious is thine own, had been my frequent companion in some rambles through the neighbouring country: however, he never saw the lines, and most probably never will. As, on a re-perusal, I found them not worse than some other pieces in the collection, I have now published them, for the first time, after a slight evision. [George-John-Frederick, fourth Duke of Dorset, born November 15. 193. This amiable nobleman was killed by a fall from his horse, while hinting near Dublin, February 22. 1815, being on a visit at the time to his mother, the duchess-dowager, and her second husband, Charles Earl of Whitworth, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. - E.] (1 At every public school the junior boys are completely subservient to the upper forms till they attain a seat in the higher classes. From this stateof probation, very properly, no rank is exempt; but after a certain perio, they command in turn those who succeed. (2) Allow me to disclaim any personal allusions, even the most distant I merly mention generally what is too often the weakness of preceptors That books were only meant for drudging fools, Whose souls disdain not to condemn the wrong; None dare to raise the sterner voice of truth, Yes! I have mark'd thee many a passing day, 'Tis not enough, with other sons of power, To gleam the lambent meteor of an hour; To swell some peerage page in feeble pride, With long-drawn names that grace no page beside ; Then share with titled crowds the common lot In life just gazed at, in the grave forgot; While nought divides thee from the vulgar dead, Except the dull cold stone that hides thy head, The mouldering 'scutcheon, or the herald's roll, That well-emblazon'd but neglected scroll, Where lords, unhonour'd, in the tomb may find One spot, to leave a worthless name behind. There sleep, unnoticed as the gloomy vaults In records destined never to be read. Bright are the deeds thine earlier sires display. Alike for courts, and camps, or senates fit; The hour draws nigh, a few brief days will close, (1) Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, created Earl of Dorset by James I., was one of the earliest and brightest ornaments to the poetry of his country, and the first who produced a regular drama.”—Anderson's Poets. (2) "Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset, esteemed the most accomplished man of his day, was alike distinguished in the voluptuous court of Charles II. and the gloomy one of William III. He behaved with great gallantry in the sea-fight with the Dutch in 1665; on the day previous to which he composed his celebrated song, To all you Ladies now at Land.' His character has been drawn in the highest colours by Dryden, Pope, Frior, and Congreve."- Anderson's Poets. |