PREFACE.

The writer of the following pages has been in the habit, for many years, of amusing himself with the composition of Poetry. Often has he been advised by his friends to publish; and at length, influenced by their persuasion, and feeling a sort of paternal fondness for the offspring of his own brain, he ventures to present this small volume to the notice of the Public.

It contains Poems of many different kinds, composed, of course, in as many varieties of style; and the author has exerted his best [Pg iv] endeavours to render them worthy of approbation. The present times—he is well aware—are unfavourable for the publication of poetical works. The booksellers complain generally of the little demand for them. Nevertheless, it is very improbable that Poetry,—if excellent, (as it ought to be to deserve the name,) should ever be totally neglected. The seed of poetic taste is sown by the hand of Nature in the souls of all men; though in a small number only it is by culture brought to maturity.

The author has exalted ideas of Poetry, He deems it—decidedly—the first of the Fine Arts. It is the most intellectual,—the most [Pg v] comprehensive,—the most powerful,—the most delightful,—and, also,—hear it, Utilitarians!—the most useful. In remote antiquity, as is well known, it was chiefly instrumental in teaching and civilising the then-barbarous human race. To lure their wild minds into reflection, it invested truth and morality with the many-coloured garb of Fiction, and introduced them, through their delighted imagination, to their understanding and their heart; while, by the charm of harmonious numbers, it soothed their fierce and licentious passions into submission to the laws of social life. It was believed to have something divine in its nature, and was universally held in the highest veneration. From ancient times, even to this [Pg vi] day, it has continued to be a favourite study with many of the most illustrious characters.

Finally,—and let this be for ever remembered, as conferring on it the highest honour! Poetry has been deemed worthy by the Sacred Writers to be made an instrument in the cause of Religion; and by its sublime descriptions it has assisted human imagination in forming grand, and awful conceptions of the Almighty Creator!

Park-Fields, Allesley, near Coventry, 22d January, 1840.

[Pg vii]

PROLOGUE.

[Pg 126]

PROLOGUE.

[Pg 129]

EPILOGUE.

[Pg 134]

LINES

ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. MR. B.

(SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY MISS B***, HIS SISTER.)

[Pg 136]

LINES TO AN INFIDEL,

AFTER HAVING READ HIS BOOK AGAINST CHRISTIANITY.

[Pg 138]

LINES

ON HEARING A YOUNG GENTLEMAN, WHO IS BOTH LAME AND BLIND, BUT IN OTHER RESPECTS VERY HANDSOME, SING AND PLAY ON HIS VIOLIN FOR THE FIRST TIME.

[Pg 140]

LINES TO A PEDANTIC CRITIC.

[Pg 142]

LINES ON SHAKSPEARE.

(SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN NEAR HIS TOMB.)

[Pg 145]

LINES ON MILTON.

(SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN NEAR HIS TOMB.)

[Pg 147]

ANACREONTIC.

[Pg 149]

ANACREONTIC.

[Pg 152]

ANACREONTIC.

[Pg 157]

SONG.

[Pg 158]

SONG.

[Pg 159]

SONG TO BACCHUS.

[Pg 162]

ON SEEING THE APOLLO BELVIDERE.

INSCRIPTION FOR THE APOLLO BELVIDERE.

[Pg 163]

EPITAPH ON NELSON.

[Pg 164]

EPITAPH ON HOWARD.

[Pg 165]

EPITAPH ON VOLTAIRE.

[Pg 166]

EPITAPH ON NAPOLEON.

[Pg 168]

EPITAPH ON LORD BYRON.

[Pg 170]

EPITAPH ON SIR SAMUEL ROMILLY.

[Pg 171]

EPITAPH ON WILBERFORCE.

[Pg 172]

EPITAPH.

[Pg 173]

TRANSLATED FROM ANACREON.

[Pg 174]

EPIGRAMS.

ON HEARING OF THE BURNING OF MOSCOW.

[Pg 175]

TO A HYPOCRITICAL CALVINIST.

TO JULIA.

[Pg 178]

ON THE NEW EXPERIMENT OF LIGHTING THE HOUSE OF COMMONS BY MEANS OF GAS-PIPES PLACEDBETWEEN THE TWO CEILINGS.

[Pg 179]

ON SEEING MR. NUTES,

A SENSELESS, UNFEELING FELLOW, WEEP AT THE REPRESENTATION OF KING LEAR.

[Pg 180]

[Pg 181]

[Pg 182]

ON TWO SISTERS WHO ARE ALWAYS QUARRELLING.

[Pg 184]

ON THE CONDUCT OF SOME FEW CLERGYMEN, WHO ARE A DISGRACE TO THEIR SACRED PROFESSION.

[Pg 185]

ON THE MARCH OF INTELLECT.

[Pg 186]

ON HEARING MR. **** BOAST THAT HE COULDTRANSLATE VIRGIL.

[Pg 187]

ON DR. ****,

A MERE PRETENDER TO MEDICAL SCIENCE, OFFICIOUSLY OFFERING ME HIS SERVICES.

[Pg 188]

ON HEARING A PARSON READ VERY BADLY A SERMON HE HAD BOUGHT.

[Pg 189]

TO MR. BURY, AN EMINENT SURGEON IN COVENTRY,

ON HIS HAVING PERFORMED A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION, IN A CASE OF DEEPLY-SEATED INFLAMMATION IN THE NECK, WHEN THE PATIENT WAS IN EXTREME DANGER OF IMMEDIATE SUFFOCATION.

[Pg 190]

AFTER HAVING SEEN SEVERAL BAD PAINTINGS OF THE DEATH OF SIR JOHN MOORE.

[Pg 191]

ON HEARING A LADY TALK VERY FAST ANDUNINTELLIGIBLY.

[Pg 196]

ON THE MANY VIOLENT DISPUTES AMONG THE PREACHERS OF THE GOSPEL.

[Pg 197]

ON HEARING A CLERGYMAN PREACH A DULL SERMON IN A LOUD, SHRILL VOICE.

H. MERRIDEW, PRINTER, COVENTRY.