562 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1812. 



The Ladies came ; and John in terror threw 

 One painful glance, and then his eyes withdrew ; 

 Not with such speed, but he in other eyes 

 With anguish read, — ' I pity, but despise — 

 ' Unhappy boy ! presumptuous scribbler ! — you, 

 • To dream such dreams — be sober, and adieu !' 



Then came the Noble Friend — " And will my Lord 

 Vouchsafe no comfort ? drop no soothing word ? 

 Yes he must speak :" he speaks. * My good young friend, 



* You know my views; upon my care depend ; 

 « My hearty thanks to your good Father pay, 



* And be a student. — Harry, drive away.' 



Stillness reign'd all around ; of late so full 

 The busy scene, deserted now and dull : 

 Stern is his nature who forbears to feel 

 Gloom o'er his spirits on such trials steal. 

 Most keenly felt our Poet as he went 

 From room to room without a fix'd intent; 

 " And here," he thought, " I was caress'd, admir'd 

 Were here my songs ; she smil'd, and I aspir'd : 

 " The change how grievous !" As he mus'd, a dame 

 Busy and peevish to her duties came ; 

 Aside the tables and the chairs she drew. 

 And sang and muttered in the Poet's view; 



• This was her fortune ; here they leave the poor ; 

 Enjoy themselves, and think of us no more ; 

 I had a promise — ' here his pride and shame 

 Urg'd him to fly from this familiar dame ; 

 He gave one farewell look, and by a coach 

 Reach'd his own mansion at the night's approach. 



His Father met him with an anxious air, 

 Heard his sad tale, and check'd what seem'd despair : 

 Hope was in him corrected, but alive ; 

 My Lord would something for a friend contrive ; 

 His word was pledg'd : our Hero's feverish mind 

 Admitted this, and half his grief resign'd: 

 But, when three months had fled, and every day 

 Drew from the sickening hopes their strength away, 

 The Youth became abstracted, pensive, dull ; 

 He utter'd nothing:, though his heart was full ; 



