.55"! 



GENIUS. 



An Ode. 



I. 1. 



Many there be who, through the vale of life, 



\Yith velvet pace, unnoticed, softly go, 

 While jarring discord's inharmonious strife 

 Awakes them not to woe. 

 By them unheeded, carking care. 

 Green-eyed grief, and dull despair ; 

 Smoothly they pursue their way, 



With even tenor, and with equal breath •, 

 Alike through cloudy, and through sunny day, 

 Then sink in peace to death. 



II. 1. 



But ah ! a few there be whom griefs devour, 



And weeping woe, and disappointment keen, 

 Repining penury, and sorrow sour, 



And self-consuming spleen. 

 And these are Genius' favourites : these 

 Know the thought-throned mind to please, 

 And from her fleshy seat to draw 



To realms where Fancy's golden orbits roll, 

 Disdaining all but 'wildering rapture's law, 



The captivated soul. 



III. 1. *- 



Genius, from thy starry throne, 



High above the burning zone, 



In radiant robe of light arrayed, 



Oh hear the plaint by thy sad favourite made, 



His melancholy moan. 

 He tells of scorn, he tells of broken vows. 



Of sleepless nights, of anguish- ridden days, 

 Pangs that his sensibility uprouse 



