forego it at the accustomed time. One day, being on a 
journey, he asked for this baneful stimulant as usual; 
but, unhappily, his attendants had forgotten to provide 
themselves with it. Knowing what the consequences 
mio-ht be if he did not soon obtain it, several persons 
were despatched by different roads to procure a sup¬ 
ply; the prince died, however, before any of them 
returned. This is indeed thwarting the designs of 
Providence, and turning a blessing into a curse: but 
what gifts of Heaven have not the unbridled passions of 
man perverted ? Both the use and abuse of this potent 
drug, and also the method of obtaining it, are well 
described in the following lines : 
« There they put the swelling tops 
Of poppy, that towards its bed 
Hangs for sleep a heavy head. 
They cut the moisture, and there drops 
Richly through the balmy air 
Balm that gods have made for care. 
Dangerous to a daring lip 
Is the balm, and fierce with sleep ; 
Fierce with what should calmly bless, 
And mortal in forgetfulness : 
But temper’d well and wisely tasted, 
It warms the bosom that lay wasted ; 
Smooths pain, and labour, and disease, 
And sheds a magic oil on passion’s stormy seas. 
