_ 1826.) Notes of a Miscellaneous Reader. 273 
At least there is some: bonhommie imhis so frankly assigning the real 
reasons for his tergiversation—the breaking of a promise on the one 
part, and the making of a promise on another. And yet this conduct 
ultimately succeeded. He did not Jive and die Vicar of Bray—but he 
did a Maréchal de France. y. 
AN ANSWER, 
‘Upon being asked, in the course of a conversation of which the limite sledge 
: action of human se fe the marese What I eked aie ia 
I wisn I could in all things sport, 
From heavenly to earthly court ; 
Anon to flutter ’bout a star, 
Anon the sound of swain’s guitar ; 
Viewing the track of mighty spheres, 
Ent’ring the caves of beauty’s ears : 
Now, whilst the thunder rattles loud, 
My steed yon sweeping ebon cloud 
Still dashing on, whilst skies are rent 
With the mighty element : 
Then stooping downward to the earth, 
To make its petty lords my mirth; 
Playing about the despot’s crown, 
Chuckling at the favourite’s frown ; 
Espying him who curves the lip, , 
Then quickly through the honey trip, . 
And seeking in his heart the hive, 
Find vipers, toads, and wasps alive. 
_ And then, to give my spirit rest, 
Mounting a billow’s parking crest ; 
Counting the bubbles of its track, 
Or colours of the dolphin’s back : 
Then entering an empty shell 
Thrown to shore by the young wave’s swell, 
Become some wandering beauty’s pelf,— 
And placed upon hér mantle-shelf, 
Witness the heart-endearing birth 
Of joys around the good man’s hearth. 
Then hie me to the wedded bed, 
A spirit’s blessing there to shed— 
And then, whilst the moon bares her bosom of light, 
When the wind is as music—the stars as the eyes 
Of angels, beholding the fairies of night, 
As they keep their glad jubilee under the skies— 
Then lightly from the couch I’d prance, 
Tojoin with Zephyr in the dance ~ 
Upon a daisy’s unbent head, 
And now a rose and tulip tread : 
Then seat me in a violet’s cup, 
And on a feast of honey sup; 
Whilst trembling dew-drop bright and clear 
Should be my banquet chandelier ; 
Then sleeping in my flower-room, 
Be waked but by its rich perfume, 
Yielding meet tribute to the day, 
And ta’en by vassal beam away— 
Then throw me in the gelden tide, : 
And to heaven in sun-light glide. — D.W.J. 
"MLM. New Series—Vor.IyNo.9. - . 2N 
