P. S. You perceive something odd in my style, Something novel-attractive, I know by the smile, That I fancy I see playing over your cheek, And that says—just as plain as a smile can well speak "The genius we all have admired so long "In its garment of prose, breaks at last into song, "And we all of us thought, though his prose was ❝ divine, "That his forte was poetic-and destined to shine "In the regions of fiction, he soon would pour forth "The most exquisite strains ever heard upon earth." 'Pon my soul, my dear Lord! you are truly propheticAnd your judgment so fine, so discreet, so pathetic, Is verified now-but 'tis right to confess That my Muse in her ardor and joy to express The delight that my fête and my lion inspired, Has been with an Eastern phraseology fired; And hence you will own, with emotions ecstatic, That my Muse and myself are now both asi-atic. LETTER II. FROM ACERBUS SKETCH, ESQ. TO -'s Boarding House, Cheltenham, May, 1820. FATIGUED with politics and news, Wearied with "Radical Reform," In solitude I court the muse, And seek her renovating charm. Well pleased does Fancy now retreat From the dull dome of Downing Street, From C -h and state affairs, To Nature's smiles and fragrant airs; I sit me down contentedly Even by the Chelt's* retiring banks, And eyes-that like unnumbered suns That pours As softly murmuring they glide, Like echoes of a Naiad's song!† But well I know, nor babbling brook, "A silver stream still rolls his waters near, "On whose enamel'd bank I'll walk, "And see how prettily they smile, and hear "How prettily they talk." COWLEY'S COUNTRY LIFE. Naiads, nymphs of the fountain. Can win thy stern inquiring mind From the deep study of thy kind- To the gay groupes that round me swarm -Thus then with brief respect I treat 'em, To fashion's self the rules of art, I know your art, and as the poet Has said that "all must love that know it."+ "The proper study of mankind is man."-POPE. This is the elegant mode of address from the French stage at least it was so when I was in Paris-but things may be otherwise now. Quem não sabe a arte, nao a estima.--CAMOENS. I love it too-have felt its power And hence with grateful zeal I prize Trust me, kind souls! my gentle care Your faults would rather spare, very Than one ungracious thorny line Within your wreath of praise entwine; But well I know the sympathy That swells each breast, and fires each eye, When censure in her bitter sport Flings some poor brother " à la morte,' "Dans l'adversité de nos meilleurs amis nous trouvons quelque chose qui ne nous deplait pas," says Rochefoucault, and I fear he says too truly ;-experience has taught me to believe that this picture will not be found overchargedyet in my notices shall, I trust, give a lesson of moderation and forbearance worthy of emulation. To those who may feel aggrieved by the truth of my colouring, I will afford terms of accommodation and of truce; "Desinant "Maledicere, malefacta ne noscant sua." |