434 



VALEDICTORY LINES. 



O reminiscences of youth! ye charm 

 The years of manhood, soothe the aches of age ; 

 Your pencil paints the pleasures of the past 

 In liveliest hues, while many a rueful pain 

 Ye darken o'er with shade." 



From an unpublished Poem. 



Ye minstrels of melody ! children of song ! 

 A moment yet more I the strain must prolong. 

 Yes, lovely enchanters of wood and of dell ! 

 One moment yet grant me to bid you farewell. — 

 One moment to thank you for much of delight ; — 

 For much ting'd with rapture, by hope colour'd bright; — 

 What time I have listened, in glens and in groves, 

 In moorlands, in meadows, to songs of your loves; — 

 How often the Lapwings have heard on North-moor ! 

 How often the Rooks, at my natal cot's door ! 

 And both those and the Ring-Doves, B.t P ether ton-Park, 

 While o'er the rich meadow sang sweetly the Lark ! 

 And the Thrush' s, the- Black-bird's, and Red-breast's 



soft note, 

 Seem'd, buoyant like bubbles, on ether to float ; — 

 The Cuckoo's loud monotone spake of delight ; — 

 Of May time the Nightingale sang at midnight ; — 



