PRIZE POEM. 213 



asked, " Have you heard the subject for the 

 Prize Poem?" addressing me. 

 I said, "No. What is it?" 

 "The Conflagration of Rome by Nero." 

 " An excellent subject," I replied. " I 

 hope you mean to try. It would be a 

 great gratification to your friends were 

 you to obtain the Chancellor's medal." 



"It is my intention to do so, provided 

 you will give me your assistance." 



At this I laughed, and, indeed, almost 

 ridiculed the idea of my very limited 

 capacity being required for a purpose 

 so much beyond its sphere. But he 

 would not be put down. He had heard 

 of me at my sister's in Hampshire, and 

 had seen what he called proofs of my 

 capability. 



" Pooh, pooh," I exclaimed ; " I may have 

 been guilty of twisting some sorrowful 

 reflections, or some morbid fancies, into 

 verse and indulged in amatory effusions in 

 rhyme that is all. You must not consider 



