POEM. 217 



on such lamentable occasions, our grief 

 was, in a great measure, alleviated by 

 the kind condolence of the officiating 

 clergyman, who, it appeared, was ac- 

 quainted with my brother-in-law. He 

 stopped and spent the afternoon with 

 us; by his conversation I discovered that 

 he was from the Principality, and at 

 that time was engaged collecting, arrang- 

 ing, and, I believe, in translating, the 

 productions of the old Welsh Bards, for 

 the Society of Ancient Britons. 



This led to a discourse on our modern 

 English poets, and their several merits. 

 I then, after relating to him the cause 

 of my entering the lists, and the subject, 

 ventured with his permission to repeat 

 the few lines I had already written. 



He expressed his surprise and admiration 

 in very flattering terms, and, with all the 

 ardour of a devotee of the Muses, urged me, 

 nay, prayed of me, to go on with it. 



I promised compliance ; and in the 



