POETRY. 665 



Alas ! what hopes, what high romantic views 



Did that one visit to the soul infuse, 



Which cherish'd with such love, 'twas worse than death to 



lose! 

 Still he would strive, tho' painful was the strife, 

 To walk in this appointed road of life; 

 On these low duties, duteous he would wait. 

 And patient bear the anguish of his fate. 

 Thanks to the Patron, hut of coldest kind, 

 Express'd the sadness of the Poet's mind ; 

 Whose heavy hours were pass'd with busy men. 

 In the dull practice of th' official pen ; 

 Who to Superiors must in time impart 

 (The custom this) his progress in their art : 

 But, so had grief on his perception wrought. 

 That all unheeded were the duties taught ; 

 No answers gave he when his trial came. 

 Silent he stood, but suffering without shame ; '" 

 And they observ'd that words severe or kind 

 Made no impreseion on his wounded mind ; 

 For all perceiv'd from whence his failure rose. 

 Some grief whose cause he deign'd not to disclose. 

 A soul averse from scenes and works so new. 

 Fear ever shrinking from the vulgar crew ; 

 Distaste for each mechanic law and rule. 

 Thoughts of past honour and a patron cool ; 

 A grieving parent, and a feeling mind. 

 Timid and ardent, tender and refin'd ; 

 These all with mighty force the Youth assail'd, 

 Till his soul fainted, and his reason fail'd : i ii/. 

 When this was known, and some debate arose '"i 

 How they who saw it should the fact disclose ; 

 He found their purpose, and in terror fled 

 From unseen kindness, with mistaken dread. 



Meantime the Parent was distress'd to find 

 His Son no longer for a Priest design'd : 

 But still he gain'd some comfort by the news 

 Of John's promotion, though with humbler views ; 

 For he conceiv'd that in no distant time 

 The Boy would learn to scramble and to climb : 

 He little thought a Son, his hope and pride. 

 His favour'd Boy, was now a home denied ; 

 Yes ! while the parent was intent to trace 

 How men in office climb from place to place; 

 From place to place, o'er moor, and heath, and hill 

 Rov'd the sad Youth, with ever-changing will, 

 Of eyery aid bereft, expos'd to every ill. 



Thus 



