210 CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



We have no objection to the compliment to Lord Valentia (Sabrina 

 should have recollected he is now Earl of Mountnorris), but why not 

 have prophecied the e8tal)lishment of "The Analyst" in Worcester, in 

 1834, a subject of vital importance sufficient to have justified the out- 

 pourings of the river at the period in question, and of more real conse- 

 quence to the community than all the " gems" brought by his Lordship 

 from Persia. 



The Doctor hurries the river on past Bewdley and Stourport, to 

 ** Vigornia fair," and carries us up the Teme nolens volens into Radnorshire, 

 almost in sight of Plynlimmon again ! There is an old familiar rhyme 

 celebrating some tutor, who, it is said, flogged his scholars 



" Out of France into Spain, 

 And then he flogged them back again.^* 



The Doctor serves the unfortunate companions of his pilgrimage in 

 a similar way, and has hardly got them up the river, before he hurries them 

 down again. Our author informs us in his preface that he is a great lover 

 of *' legendary lore," and indeed he need not have made the statement, 

 for the fact soon unfolds itself, and before we have escaped from one 

 legend, we find ourselves engulfed in the jaws of another. This latter 

 is the celebrated local legend of 



ST. CATHERINE'S MARE AND COLT 



Near Knightsford bridge a rivulet called Sapey brook (Dr. Booker says 

 he gave it the name of Delamere, nevertheless still vulgo Sapey brook), 

 flows into the Teme. Its course from Upper Sapey, through Lower 

 Sapey to Tedstone, is strewed with blocks of sandstone, several of which 

 bear upon them circular and semi-circular depressions in the stone, 

 which the rustics allege are indentions made by a mare and colt stolen 

 from St. Catherine, when she resided at Sapey, which said mare and 

 colt being conducted down the bed of the brook by the robbers, to avoid 

 detection, St. Catherine prayed they might leave their marks upon the 

 stones wherever they trod. Presto ! no sooner said than done, the tracks 

 appeared, and hastening after them down the brook, the mare and colt 

 were discovered to the great joy of St. Catherine. But let the poet 

 narrate the case himself — 



*' A pious maiden with her sire 

 Heedless of peril, toil, and mire, 

 Pursued the robbers, tracing plain 

 The footmarks fresh through field and lane, 

 Till, on the brook's smooth fording side, 

 These marks more plain were soon espied ; 

 While on the further brink were none. 

 The maiden then this orison 

 Pour'd forth to heaven, in lowly guise, 

 Faith beaming from her upcast eyes : 

 * O Thou ! who to the good art kind, 

 Grant we our plunder'd own may find.' 

 Then down the stream their course they bent,— 

 Its aid, the clear stream gladly lent ; 

 And show'd in many a shallow place, 

 The marks by which pursuit could trace. 

 The fav'rite pad, and filly too, 

 That yet had never worn a shoe. 

 These, with the robber soon they found ; 

 And fast with cords, the culprit bound, 

 Near Hoar-Stone's rocks which tow'r sublime, 

 And frown'd on such a heinous crime.^* (P. 40.) 



