The Mariner, whose eye is bright, He went like one that hath been stunned, A sadder and a wiser man, 625 He rose the morrow morn. вита 5 THE GOOD GREAT MAN (1802) COMPLAINT 'How seldom, friend! a good great man inherits Or any merit that which he obtains.' REPLY 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? 10 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 infants' breath: And three firm friends, more sure than day and night 15 HIMSELF, his MAKER, and the ANGEL DEATH! 5 YOUTH AND AGE Verse, a breeze mid blossoms straying, When I was young?-Ah, woful When! 15 That fear no spite of wind or tide! Nought cared this body for wind or weather Flowers are lovely; Love is flower-like; 20 O! the joys, that came down shower-like, Ere I was old? Oh woful Ere, Which tells me, Youth's no longer here! What strange disguise hast now put on, I see these locks in silvery slips, Dew-drops are the gems of morning, That only serves to make us grieve WORK WITHOUT HOPE (February 21st, 1827) All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair The bees are stirring-birds are on the wing- Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing. blow, Have traced the fount whence streams of nectar flow. Bloom, O ye amaranths! bloom for whom ye may, 10 For me ye bloom not! Glide, rich streams, away! With lips unbrightened, wreathless brow, I stroll: And would you learn the spells that drowse my Work without Hope draws nectar in a sieve, Robert Soutbey 1774-1843 THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM (Written at Westbury, 1798) I. It was a summer evening, Old Kaspar's work was done, 5 And by him sported on the green 10 II. She saw her brother Peterkin Roll something large and round, In playing there had found; He came to ask what he had found, That was so large, and smooth, and round. III. Old Kaspar took it from the boy, Who stood expectant by; 15 And then the old man shook his head, And with a natural sigh, ""Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he, "Who fell in the great victory. IV. 20 "I find them in the garden, For there's many hereabout; The ploughshare turns them out! v. 25"Now tell us what 't was all about," Young Peterkin, he cries; And little Wilhelmine looks up With wonder-waiting eyes; "Now tell us all about the war, 30 And what they fought each other for." VI. "It was the English," Kaspar cried, But what they fought each other for, I could not well make out; 35 But every body said," quoth he, "That 'twas a famous victory. 40 VII. "My father lived at Blenheim then, They burnt his dwelling to the ground, So with his wife and child he fled, VIII. "With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide, 45 And many a childing mother then |