Near me, far off me; you, that tempt the traveller Onward and onward. Wooing, retreating, till the swamp beneath him I know it! Learnt it from thee, from thy perfidious glances ! Black-eyed Rebecca ! WESTPHALIAN SONG.* [The following is an almost literal translation of a very old and very favourite song among the Westphalian Boors. The turn at the end is the same with one of Mr. Dibdin's excellent songs, and the air to which it is sung by the Boors is remarkably sweet and lively.] WHEN thou to my true-love comest When she asks thee how I fare? Say, folks in Heaven fare finely. When she asks, "What! Is he sick?" Say, I come to-morrow. * Morning Post, Sept. 27, 1802; Coleridge's "Essays on his own Times:" vol. 1. p. 992. ORIGINAL EPIGRAMS.* WHAT is an Epigram? a dwarfish whole, CHARLES, grave or merry, at no lie would stick, And taught at length his memory the same trick. Believing thus what he so oft repeats He's brought the thing to such a pass, poor youth, That now himself and no one else he cheats, Save when unluckily he tells the truth. ΑΝ N evil spirit's on thee, friend! of lateEv'n from the hour thou camest to thy estate. Thy mirth all gone, thy kindness, thy discretion, Th' estate has proved to thee a most complete possession. [blest, Shame, shame, old friend! would'st thou be truly Be thy wealth's lord, not slave! possessor, not possess'd. HERE lies the Devil-ask no other name. Well-but you mean Lord-? Hush! we mean the same. * Printed in The Morning Post, Sept. 23 and Oct. 2, 9, 11, 1802. TO ONE WHO PUBLISHED IN PRINT WHAT HAD BEEN ENTRUSTED TO HIM BY MY FIRESIDE. TWO things hast thou made known to half the nation, My secrets and my want of penetration : For O! far more than all which thou hast penn'd It shames me to have call'd a wretch like thee my friend! VIRG. "Obscuri sub luce maligna." SCARCE any scandal, but has a handle; In truth most falsehoods have their rise; * HOW seldom, friend! a good great man in herits Honour or wealth with all his worth and pains! It sounds like stories from the land of spirits If any man obtain that which he merits Or any merit that which he obtains. * This and the reply to it were reprinted in The Friend, Dec. 28, 1809. REPLY TO THE ABOVE. FOR shame, dear friend, renounce this canting strain ! What would'st thou have a good great man obtain ? Place? titles? salary? a gilded chain? Or throne of corses which his sword had slain ? Greatness and goodness are not means, but ends ! Hath he not always treasures, always friends, The good great man? three treasures, Love, and LIGHT, And CALM THOUGHTS, regular as infant's breath : And three firm friends, more sure than day and night, HIMSELF, his MAKER, and the ANGEL DEATH! OLD HARPY jeers at castles in the air, And thanks his stars, whenever Edmund speaks, That such a dupe as that is not his heir— But know, old Harpy! that these fancy freaks Though vain and light, as floating gossamer, Always amuse, and sometimes mend the heart : A young man's idlest hopes are still his pleasures, And fetch a higher price in Wisdom's mart Than all the unenjoying Miser's treasures. TO A VAIN YOUNG LADY. DIDST thou think less of thy dear self Far more would others think of thee! Sweet Anne! the knowledge of thy wealth Boon Nature gave wit, beauty, health, That moment would'st thou become rich in ! Sweet Anne! thou wert, indeed, bewitching. FROM me, Aurelia ! you desired Well! you're the Fair by all admired— FOR A HOUSE-DOG'S COLLAR. WHEN thieves come, I bark: when gallants, I am still So perform both my master's and mistress's will. N vain I praise thee, Zoilus! IN In vain thou rail'st at me! Me no one credits Zoilus ! And no one credits thee ! EPITAPH ON A MERCENARY MISER. A POOR benighted Pedlar knock'd |