556 ANNUAL ROISTER, 1812. 



She gives thee praise to humble and confound. 

 Smiles to ensnare and flatters thee to wound. 



Why has she said that in the lowest state. 

 The noble mind insures a noble fate ? 

 And why thy daring mind to glory call? 

 That thou may'st dare and sufter, soar and fall. 

 Beauties are tyrants, and if they can reign. 

 They have no feeling for their subject's pain ; 

 Their victim's anguish gives their charms applause. 

 And their chief glory is the woe they cause : 

 Something of this was felt, in spite of love. 

 Which hope, in spite of reason, would remove. 



Thus liv'd our Youth, with conversation, books. 

 And Lady Emma's soul-subduing looks ; 

 Lost in delight, astonished at his lot. 

 All prudence banish'd, all advice forgot, — 

 Hopes, fears, and every thought, were fix'd upon the spot. 



'Twas autumn yet, and many a day must frown 

 On Brandon-Hall, ere went my Lord to town; 

 Meantime the father, who had heard his boy 

 Liv'd in a round of luxury and joy ; 

 And justly thinking that the youth was one 

 Who, meeting danger, was unskill'd to shun ; 

 Knowing his temper, virtue, spirit, zeal, 

 How prone to hope and trust, believe and feel ; 

 These on the parent's soul their weight impress'd. 

 And thus he wrote the counsels of his breast. 



* John, thou'rt a genius ; thou hast some pretence, 

 I think, to wit, but hast thou sterling sense ? 



That which, like gold, may through the world go forth. 

 And always pass for what 'tis truly worth ; 

 Whereas this genius, like a bill, must take 

 Only the value our opinions make. 



• Men fam'd for wit, of dangerous talents vain. 

 Treat those of common parts with proud disdain; 

 The powers that wisdom would, improving, hide. 

 They blaze abroad with inconsid'rate pride; 

 While yet but mere probationers for fame. 



They seize the honour they should then disclaim: 

 Honour so hurried to the light must fade. 

 The lasting laurels flourish in the shade. 



' Genius 



