BlSORDEHEiD EYES. igj 



open air had the fame bad effect upon them ; and when 

 there was inow on the ground I dared not venture out, 

 as I could not bear the dazzling reflection. I was. 

 obliged to perform the duties of my office under the 

 acuteft pains ; and all the reft of my time I fat in a 

 corner of the room by a night-lamp w:tb. a fcreen be- 

 fore it, holding my hand before my eyes, a prey to 

 gloomy reveries. The (lighter! acceleration in the 

 blood caufed me fuch intolerable burnings in the eyes* 

 that I could have fcratched them out of my head ia 

 defpair. Unhappily for me, my blood was always fet 

 in fuch fudden and violent motion by any lively idea, 

 that I was forced to bid adieu to the only amufement 

 that was left me in this melancholy condition, that of 

 making verfes. I ftill occafionally find among my pa- 

 pers a number of poems, fome fmifhed, and others in 

 fragments, which I compofed in this difmal fituation*' 

 but which I have purpofely fuppreffed, excepting one 

 that made its appearance in print under the title : To 

 my Eyes ; becaufe I find that they all turn on fuchi 

 difmal fubjefts, and paint every object in fuch gloomy 

 colours, as it is not reafonable they fhould be fhewn irt 

 to mankind ; and becaufe I think it rather the duty of 

 poet to excite them to the rational enjoyment of & 

 world fo good as that which we inhabit. I believe, 

 however, that there may be fomc truth, alas, in what 

 Chaulieu fome where fays : 

 Bonne on mauvaife fante 

 Fait notre pliilofophie. 

 At leafi, with me, it required more than a year to 

 fee the things around me, in fpite of" my eyes, in a 

 vol. ix. § fogjewhat 



