POETRY. 556 



And now arriving at the Hall, he try'd 

 For air compos'd, serene and satisfy'd ; 

 As he had practisM in his room alone. 

 And there acquir'd a free and easy tone : 

 There he had said, " Whatever the degree 

 A man obtains, what more than man is he?" 

 And when arriv'd, — " This room is but a room; 

 Can aught we see the steady soul o'ercome ? 

 Let me in all a manly firmness show. 

 Upheld by talents, and their value know." 



This Reason urg'd ; but it surpass'd his skill 

 To be in act as manly as in will : 

 When he his Lordship and the Lady saw, 

 Brave as he was, he felt oppress'd with awe ; 

 And spite of verse, that so much praise had won. 

 The Poet found he was the Bailiff's son. 



But dinner came, and the succeeding hours 

 Fix'd his weak nerves, and rais'd his failing powers; 

 Prais'd and assur'd, he ventur'd once or twice 

 On some remark, and bravely broke the ice ; 

 So that at night, reflecting on his words. 

 He found, in time, he might converse with Lords. 



Now was the Sister of his Patron seen, — 

 A lovely creature, with majestic mien ; 

 Who, softly smiling while she look'd so fair, 

 Prais'd the young Poet with such friendly air ; 

 Such winning frankness in her looks express'd. 

 And such attention to her Brother's guest ; 

 That so much beauty, join'd with speech so kind, 

 Rais'd strong emotions in the Poet's mind; 

 Till reason fail'd his bosom to defend, 

 From the sweet power of this enchanting Friend. — 

 Rash boy ! what hope thy frantic mind invades ? 

 What love confuses, and what pride persuades? 

 Awake to Truth ! should'st thou deluded feed 

 On hopes so groundless — thou art mad indeed. 



Whatsay'st thou, wise-one? " that all-powerful Love 

 Can fortune's strong impediments remove; 

 Nor is it strange that worth should wed to worth. 

 The pride of Genius with the pride of Birth." 

 While thou art dreaming thus, the Beauty spies 

 Love in thy tremor, passion in thine eyes ; 

 And with th' amusement pleas'd, of conquest vaiu. 

 She seeks her pleasure, careless of thy pain ; 



Siie 



