THE

DRUID'S LAMENT.

THIS Poem was written for the Chancellor's Medal in the year 1827. It was understood at the time that the votes of the Examiners were equally divided between this exercise and that of the successful candidate; but, in consequence of the decision having been given in favour of the latter by a casting vote, the Vice-Chancellor ordered that a second prize of books, of the value of £7 10s., should be awarded to the Writer of this Poem. (Ed.)

The following Poem is supposed to be the lament of one of the Druid bards, after the battle of Mona.

"Goe, little booke, thyself present,
As child, whose parent is unkent,
To him that is the president!

And, when his honour hath thee redde,
Crave pardon for thy hardy-hedde:
But, when thou art past jeopardie,

Come, tell me what was said of mee."

SPENSER.

Introduction to the Shepherd's Calendar.

THE

DRUID'S LAMENT.

Καὶ μὴν ὅτι μὲν χρηστὰ διδάξω πιστεύω τούσδε θεατάς,
εἰ καινοτομεῖν ἐθελήσουσιν, καὶ μὴ τοῖς ἤθεσι λίαν
τοῖς ἀρχαίοις ἐνδιατρίβειν·—τοῦτ ̓ ἔσθ' ὃ μάλιστα δέδοικα.*
ARISTOPH. Eccl. 583.

I AM come here to die!—the battle's yell
Hath fainted into stillness; and I hail
Nature's bland voice again,-the mellow swell

Of the far billow, which the moon-beam pale
Hath kissed into repose, the evening gale,
Rich with the spoil of violets, seems to creep
On the charmed ear so softly musical,

As it would bid the wretched cease to weep,
And o'er the victor's rage fling the sweet spell of sleep.

* The Greek motto has respect to the adoption of the Spenserian metre instead of the verse usually employed for the Chancellor's poem. -(ED.)