Here builds the wood-lark, here the faithful dove The neighbouring hill is hence call'd Fairy Land.* * By contraction, Failand, a hill well known in Somersetshire; not far from this is The Bleeding Rock, from which constantly issues a crimson current. A desire to account for this appearance gave rise to a whimsical conversation, which produced these slight verses. ODE FROM H. M. AT BRISTOL, TO DRAGON, MR. GARRICK'S HOUSE-DOG, AT HAMPTON. I. DRAGON! Since lyrics are the mode, And reason good I plead : Are those who cannot write, to blame II. O could I, like that nameless wight *, Like his, my muse should learn to whistle In strains which never can die. III. Father of lyrics, tuneful HORACE! Can thy great shade do nothing for us Our luckless Bards have broke the strings, * See the admirable Epistle to Sir WILLIAM CHAMBERS. † A profusion of Odes had appeared about this time, which strikingly violated all the rules of Lyrical composition. IV. DRAGON! thou tyrant of the yard, That watch'd the fruits Hesperian! V. O DRAGON! change with me thy fate, I, left to think, and thou to feed! VI. Then shalt thou scent the rich regale Nay, share the sav'ry bit; And see, what thou hast never seen, VII. Oft shalt thou snuff the smoaking venison, Devour'd, alone, by hungry denizen, So fresh, thou'lt long to tear it; Though FLACCUS* tells a diff'rent tale Of social souls who chose it stale, Because their friends should share it. *Hor. lib. ii. Sat. 2. VIII. And then on me what joys would wait, How useless bolt and latch! How vain were locks, and bars how vain, IX. Not that 'twould crown with joy my life, Though she, accelerating Fate, X. Though fir'd with innocent ambition, More flow'rs than BURKE produces ; XI. I'd get my master's ways by rote, The Gardener and Poultry Woman at Hampton. XII. Nor let me pair his blue-ey'd Dame No; Pallas and the Queen of Beauty XIII. Whene'er I heard the rattling coach Nor ever feel I wore a chain, XIV. The master loves his sylvan shades, Yet I shall hear some witling cry, (Such witling from my presence fly !) "GARRICK will soon repent: XV. "Again you'll see him, never fear: "Some half-a-dozen times a year "He still will charm the age; "Accustom'd long to be admir'd, * "Of shades and streams he'll soon be tir'd, "And languish for the stage." * Mr. Garrick had just made his honourable retreat from the stage. |