Pleas'd she beheld aloft pourtray'd On many a splendid wall, Emblems of health, and heav'nly aid, And George the theme of all. Unlike the ænigmatic line, So difficult to spell, Which shook Belshazzar at his wine, The night his city fell. Soon, wat❜ry grew her eyes and dim, But with a joyful tear, None else, except in pray'r for him, It was a scene in every part Like those in fable feign'd, And seem'd by some magician's art Created and sustain'd. But other magic there, she knew, Had been exerted none, To raise such wonders in her view, That cordial thought her spirits cheer'd, And through the cumb'rous throng, Not else unworthy to be fear'd, Convey'd her calm along. So, ancient poets say, serene The sea-maid rides the waves, And fearless of the billowy scene With more than astronomic eyes She view'd the sparkling show; One Georgian star adorns the skies, Yet let the glories of a night Like that, once seen, suffice, Heav'n grant us no such future sight, THE COCK-FIGHTER'S GARLAND. [MAY, 1789.] MUSE-Hide his name of whom I sing, For his sake into scorn, Nor speak the School from which he drew The much or little that he knew, Nor Place where he was born. That such a man once was, may seem Perchance may credit win) For proof to man, what Man may prove, If grace depart, and demons move The source of guilt within. This man (for since the howling wild Gentle he was, if gentle birth Could make him such, and he had worth, If wealth can worth bestow. In social talk and ready jest He shone superior at the feast, And qualities of mind Illustrious in the eyes of those Possess'd of ev'ry kind. Methinks I see him powder'd red, With bushy locks his well-dress'd head Wing'd broad on either side, The mossy rose-bud not so sweet; His steeds superb, his carriage neat Can such be cruel? Such can be Cruel as hell, and so was he; A tyrant entertain'd With barb'rous sports, whose fell delight Was to encourage mortal fight "Twixt birds to battle train'd. One feather'd champion he possess'd, Which never knew disgrace, Nor e'er had fought, but he made flow The life-blood of his fiercest foe, The Cæsar of his race. It chanced, at last, when, on a day, His courage droop'd, he fled. |