APPENDIX. LINES WRITTEN AS A SCHOOL EXERCISE AT HAWKSHEAD, ANNO ÆTATIS 14. "AND has the Sun his flaming chariot driven Nor that vile wretch who bade the tender age Threw back my eyes, return'd, and gazed again. "When Superstition left the golden light Enlivening Hope display'd her cheerful ray, Moves through the vault of heaven, and dissipates the night; The glittering waves reflect the dazzling blaze Before the lustre of Religion's eye; With rapture she beheld Britannia smile, Clapp'd her strong wings, and sought the cheerful isle, The shades of night no more the soul involve She sheds her beam, and, lo! the shades dissolve; No jarring monks, to gloomy cell confined, With mazy rules perplex the weary mind; To ride the ring, or toss the beamy lance; No longer steel their indurated hearts To the mild influence of the finer arts; Quick to the secret grotto they retire To court majestic truth, or wake the golden lyre ; The seats of learning brave the distant skies. Where, throned in gold, immortal Science reigns; To teach, on rapid wings, the curious soul To roam from heaven to heaven, from pole to pole, The glimmering fires of Virtue to enlarge, So shall thy sire, whilst hope his breast inspires, Awake, awake! and snatch the slumbering lyre, "I look'd obedience: the celestial Fair Translated from some French stanzas by Francis Wrangham, and Printed in "Poems by Francis Wrangham, M.A., Member of Trinity College, Cambridge, London (1795), Sold by J. Mawman, 22 Poultry," pp. 106-111. The original French lines are printed side by side with Wordsworth's translation, which closes the volume.—ED. WHEN LOVE was born of heavenly line, What dire intrigues disturb'd Cythera's joy! But, infant as he was, the child In that divine embrace enchanted lay; And, by the beauty of the vase beguiled, Forgot the beverage-and pined away. "And must my offspring languish in my sight?" (Alive to all a mother's pain, The Queen of Beauty thus her court address'd) "No: Let the most discreet of all my train Receive him to her breast: Think all, he is the God of young delight." Then TENDERNESS with CANDOUR join'd, But none of those fair Graces brought And sad experience forbade a thought On the wild Goddess of VOLUPTUOUS JOY. Long undecided lay th' important choice, Till of the beauteous court, at length, a voice Pronounced the name of HOPE:-The conscious child Stretch'd forth his little arms, and smiled. 'Tis said ENJOYMENT (who averr'd The charge belong'd to her alone) Jealous that HOPE had been preferr'd Laid snares to make the babe her own. Of INNOCENCE the garb she took, The blushing mien and downcast look ; It happen'd that, to sleep inclined, To that false INNOCENCE's power Her little charge consign'd. The Goddess then her lap with sweetmeats fill'd And gave, in handfuls gave, the treacherous store : A wild delirium first the infant thrill'd; But soon upon her breast he sunk-to wake no more. |