578 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. 



As myrtle bushes must give place to trees, 

 Our humbler strains can now no longer please. 

 Look down for once, inspire me in these lays 

 In lofty verse to sing our Eector's praise. 



The mighty wheel of Time to light has rolled 



That golden age by ancient bards foretold. 



Minerva now descends upon our land, 



And scatters knowledge with unsparing hand ; 



Long since Ulysses saw the heavenly maid, 



In Mentor's form and Mentor's dress arrayed, 



But now to Cambrian lands the goddess flies, 



And drops in Williams' form from out the skies ; 



And as at dawn the brilliant orb of light, 



With his bright beams dispels the gloomy night, 



So sunk in ignorance our land he finds, 



But with his learning drives it from our minds, 



And he, a hero, shall with joyful eyes 



See crowds of heroes all around him rise ; 



With great Minerva's wisdom he shall rule 



Those boisterous youths the rector's class at school, 



And when in the fifth class begins his power, 



And he begins to teach us, from that hour 



Dame Poetry begins to show her face, 



And witty epigrams the plaster grace ; 



There growing wild are often to be seen 



The names of boys that Duxes erst have been, 



And at the chimney-piece is seen the same 



All thickly scribbled with the boobie's name. 



Ne'er shall the dreadful tawse be heard again, 

 -The lash resounding, and the cry of pain ; 

 Carmichael's self -will change (0 that he would !) 

 From the imperative to wishing mood ; 

 Ye years roll on, and haste the expected time 

 When flogging boys shall be accounted crime. 



But come, thy real nature let us see, 

 No more the rector but the goddess be, 



