Hayley.ballads.1805

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Hayley, William, 1745-1820: [from Ballads (1805)]

Hayley, William, 1745-1820: [from Ballads (1805)]

Bibliographic details

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Hayley, William, 1745-1820: Ballads (1805)

Cambridge 1992

Chadwyck-HealeyEnglish Poetry Full-Text Database

(c) 1992 Chadwyck-Healey. Do not export or print from this database without checking the Copyright

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Bibliographic details for the Source Text

Hayley, William, 1745-1820(1745-1820) Ballads by William Hayley ... founded on anecdotes relating to

animals, with prints, designed and engraved by William Blake

ChichesterPrinted by J. Seagrave

LondonFor Richard Phillips [etc.] 1805

212 p.; ill.

Preliminaries and introductory matter omitted.

Volume

[Page 1 ]

Hayley, William, 1745-1820: THE DOG.

BALLAD THE FIRST. [from Ballads (1805)]

1 Of all the speechless friends of man

2 The faithful dog I deem

3 Deserving from the human clan

4 The tenderest esteem:

[Page 2 ]

5 This feeling creature form'd to love,

6 To watch, and to defend,7 Was given to man by powers above,

8 A guardian, and a friend!

9 I sing, of all e'er known to live

10 The truest friend canine;

11 And glory if my verse may give,

12 Brave Fido! it is thine.


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13 A dog of many a sportive trick,

14 Tho' rough and large of limb.

15 Fido would chase the floating stick

16 When Lucy cried, "go swim."

[Page 3 ]

17 And what command could Lucy give,

18 Her dog would not obey?

19 For her it seemed his pride to live,

20 Blest in her gentle sway!

21 For conscious of her every care

22 He strain'd each feeling nerve,

23 To please that friend, his lady fair

24 Commanded him to serve.

25 Of many friends to Lucy dear,

26 One rose above the rest;27 Proclaim'd, in glory's bright career,

28 The monarch of her breast.

[Page 4 ]

29 Tender and brave, her Edward came

30 To bid his fair adieu;

31 To India call'd, in honour's name,

32 To honour he was true.

33 The farewell rack'd poor Lucy's heart,

34 Nor pain'd her lover less;35 And Fido, when he saw them part,

36 Seem'd full of their distress.

37 Lucy, who thro' her tears descried

38 His sympathetic air,39 "Go! with him, Fido!" fondly cried,

40 "And make his life thy care!"

[Page 5 ]

41 The dog her order understood,

42 Or seem'd to understand,43 It was his glory to make good

44 Affection's kind command.

45 How he obeyed;---the price how great

46 His brave obedience cost,

47 Fancy would faulter to relate,

48 In wild conjecture lost.

49 But Truth and Love, the upright pair,


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50 Who witnessed Fido's worth,

51 His wond'rous virtue shall declare,

52 A lesson to the earth!

[Page 6 ]

53 Not in the battle's gory tide,

54 Nor in the stormy seas,

55 No! Fido's noble faith was tried

56 In scenes of sportive ease.

57 Often in India's sultry soil58 To brace the languid limb,

59 'Twas Edward's pleasure, after toil,

60 To take a fearless swim.

61 Bold in a flood he lov'd to leap,

62 When full the current flow'd;

63 Nor dreamt the water, dark, and deep,

64 The crocodile's abode.

[Page 7 ]

65 And fearless he and Fido oft,

66 Along the stream would glide;

67 Their custom from the bank aloft

68 To vault into the tide!

69 But once, when Edward had begun70 To cast his clothes aside,

71 Round him his dog would anxious run,

72 And much to check him tried.

73 So much, that had dumb Fido said

74 "Avoid the stream to day!"

75 Those words could scarce have plainer made

76 What duty wish'd to say.

[Page 8 ]

77 Edward, too eager to enjoy

78 The sport, where danger lay,

79 Scolds him for gestures, that annoy,

80 And beats his guard away:

81 And naked now, and dreaming not82 How cruel was that blow,

83 He hurries to the lofty spot,

84 In haste to plunge below,

85 His faithful friend, with quicker pace,

86 And now with silent tongue,

87 Out-stript his master in the race,


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88 And swift before him sprung.

[Page 9 ]

89 Heaven! how the heart of Edward swell'd

90 Upon the river's brink,91 When his brave guardian he beheld

92 A glorious victim sink!

93 Sink in a watery monster's jaw,

94 That near the river's side

95 Too late th' astonish'd Edward saw,96 And shriek'd, as Fido died.

97 In vain he shriek'd; and soon his tears

98 His heart-felt loss deplore;

99 "Lucy!" he cries, as if she hears,

100 "Thy Fido is no more!"

[Page 10 ]

101 "Calamitously lost, his form,

102 "So often thy delight!

103 "No artist's hand, with genius warm,

104 "Can rescue for thy sight;

105 "But if 'tis sung by friendly bard

106 "How he resign'd his breath;

107 "Thy dog must win the world's regard,108 "Immortal in his death!"

109 'Twas thus the feeling Edward griev'd,110 Nor could his grief divine,

111 What honours, by pure love conceived,

112 Brave Fido, would be thine!

[Page 11 ]

113 When Lucy heard of Fido's fate,

114 What showers of tears she shed!

115 No cost would she have thought too great

116 To celebrate the dead.

117 But gold had not the power to raise118 A semblance of her friend;

119 Yet kind compassion, who surveys,120 Soon bids her sorrow end.

121 A sculptor, pity's genuine son!

122 Knew her well-founded grief;

123 And quickly, tho' he promised none,

124 Gave her the best relief;


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[Page 12 ]

125 He, rich in Lucy's sister's heart,

126 By love and friendship's aid,127 Of Fido, with the happiest art,

128 A secret statue made.

129 By stealth in Lucy's chamber plac'd,

130 It charm'd the mourner there,

131 'Till Edward, with new glory grac'd,

132 Rejoin'd his faithful fair.

133 The marble Fido in their sight,

134 Enhanc'd their nuptial bliss;

135 And Lucy every morn, and night,

136 Gave him a grateful kiss.

[Page 13 ]

Hayley, William, 1745-1820: THE ELEPHANT.

BALLAD THE SECOND. [from Ballads (1805)]

1 Say, nature, on whose wond'rous reign

2 Delighted fancy dwells,

3 Of all thy numerous brutal train

4 What animal excells?

5 What quadruped most nobly vies

6 In virtue with mankind,7 Like man deliberately wise,

8 And resolutely kind?

[Page 14 ]

9 Beneath a form vast and uncouth

10 Such excellence is found:

11 Sagacious Elephant! thy truth,

12 Thy kindness is renown'd.

13 More mild than sanguinary man,

14 Whose servant thou hast prov'd,15 Oft in his frantic battle's van

16 Thy bulk has stood unmoved:

17 There oft thy spirit griev'd, to see

18 His murd'rous rage encrease,

19 'Till mad himself, he madden'd thee.

20 Thou nobler friend to peace!

[Page 15 ]


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21 Acts of thy courage might occur

22 To grace heroic song;

23 But I thy gentle deeds prefer,24 Thou strongest of the strong!

25 Where India serves the British throne,

26 In scenes no longer wild,

27 A menial Elephant was known,

28 Most singularly mild!

29 It was his custom, fresh and gay30 By his attendant led,

31 Walking to water, every day,

32 To pass a gard'ner's shed,

[Page 16 ]

33 This gard'ner, of good natured fame,34 Admir'd the noble beast;

35 And gave him, whensoe'er he came,36 A vegetable feast.

37 Some dainty, from his stall bestow'd,

38 So made the beast his friend;

39 'Twas joy to see, at this abode,

40 His blythe proboscis bend.

41 Not coarsely eager for his food,42 He seem'd his love to court,

43 And oft delighted, as he stood,

44 To yield his children sport.

[Page 17 ]

45 As if to thank them for each gift,46 With tender, touching care,

47 The boys he to his back would lift,

48 And still caress them there.

49 In short his placid gambols seem'd

50 Affection so profound,

51 His friendship for this man was deem'd

52 A wonder all around.

53 But O! can humour's giddy range54 Mislead the brutal mind?

55 Can elephants their friendship change,

56 As fickle as mankind?

[Page 18 ]


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57 See now the hero of my song,

58 That theme of every tongue!

59 Alone, and fierce, he stalks along,

60 As if with frenzy stung:

61 See! to the gard'ner's well-known shed

62 Impetuous he flies;63 Seizes his friend in silent dread,

64 And lifts him to the skies.

65 High as his trunk the man can bear,

66 Th' astonish'd man he bore,

67 Who vainly struggled in the air,68 And trembled more and more.

[Page 19 ]

69 So wild, so swift, the monster past,

70 All deem'd him mad and fled.---

71 Thro' a high window gently cast,72 With terror almost dead,

73 The astounded gard'ner view'd with awe

74 The savage speed away;

75 But soon with gratitude he saw

76 The source of his dismay:

77 Unthought of source! for now inflam'd

78 A ravenous tyger sprung,

79 And at the window vainly aim'd80 To which he trembling clung.

[Page 20 ]

81 And now with joy his heart strings swell,

82 And blest he deems his lot;

83 For the foil'd tyger as he fell,84 A latent marksman shot.

85 The Elephant returns:---O Heaven!

86 How tender was his air,

87 Seeing the friend, whose life was given

88 To his preserving care!

89 For, conscious of the danger, he,90 Most providently kind,

91 From unseen ill to set him free,92 Such rescue had designed.

[Page 21 ]

93 Ye, whom a friend's dark perils pain,

94 When terrors most unnerve him,


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95 Learn from this Elephant to strain

96 Your sinews to preserve him.

[Page 22 ]

Hayley, William, 1745-1820: THE EAGLE.

BALLAD THE THIRD. [from Ballads (1805)]

1 Nature, what heart may here by thee,2 Most truly brave be styled?

3 The tender mother's it must be,

4 When struggling for her child!

5 A Scottish tale, of serious truth,

6 Will make the maxim clear,

7 I heard it from a shepherd youth,

8 As nature's self sincere.

[Page 23 ]

9 On Scotland's wildest, loneliest ground,

10 The subject fo my tale

11 Liv'd, where incumbent mountains frown'd

12 High o'er her peaceful vale.

13 The heroine of nature, she14 No vain ambition knew,

15 Her bairns and goats she nurs'd with glee,

16 To love and labour true.

17 Her hut within the valley stood,

18 Where thin grass grew alone,

19 No shade had she from lofty wood,

20 But much from towering stone.

[Page 24 ]

21 For o'er her vale a mountain's crown,

22 In loftiest horror, hung,

23 A ravenous Eagle half way down,

24 Nurs'd her imperial young.

25 Jessy herself, so was she call'd,26 Possess'd an eagle's eye,

27 And her quick vision unappall'd

28 Had mark'd the nest on high.

29 But of a fearless heart, she deem'd

30 The royal bird her friend,

31 Nor thought its rage, tho' fierce it scream'd,


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32 Would to her vale descend.

[Page 25 ]

33 With plunder borne thro' distant air,

34 She saw it stain the rock,35 Yet trusted it would nobly spare

36 Her little neighbouring flock.

37 Ah Jessy, oft the fancied friend,

38 Commits a cruel wrong;

39 Weak neighbours seldom should depend40 On kindness from the strong.

41 No manly guard hast thou with thee

42 A savage foe to scare,

43 For thy good man far off to sea

44 The distant billows bear.

[Page 26 ]

45 That best of guards thou oft has known,

46 But of his aid bereft,

47 Two little boys with thee alone

48 Are all thy treasures left.

49 The eldest grew with manly grace,

50 His years yet barely seven,

51 A stripling of a sweeter face,52 Has never gaz'd on Heaven.

53 He was indeed a friend most rare,54 To chear his lonely mother,

55 And aid her in her constant care

56 His little baby-brother.

[Page 27 ]

57 With these to Jessy much endear'd,

58 Whom from the world she hid,

59 Three nurslings more she fondly rear'd,

60 Two lambkins and a kid.

61 Most tender playmates all the five,62 None stray'd the vale beyond,

63 They were the happiest imps alive,64 All of each other fond.

65 And Jessy all with joy survey'd,

66 With joy her heart ran o'er,

67 When they their little gambols play'd,

68 She spinning at her door.


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[Page 28 ]

69 But how mischance will intervene:

70 This spot of sweet delight,71 One eventide, became a scene

72 Of anguish and affright.

73 The elder boy, gay Donald, chanc'd,

74 Far from the door to play,

75 Lest, now within the vale advanc'd,

76 His kid might roam away.

77 The mother sat to watch the vale,

78 Nor yet his sport forbid;

79 But starts to see the Eagle sail

80 Above the trembling kid.

[Page 29 ]

81 The kid began to quake and cry;

82 Not so the braver boy,83 The full-winged savage to defy

84 Was his heroic joy.

85 Still nearer sail'd the undaunted bird,

86 Its destin'd deed undone,

87 And when its ravenous scream she heard

88 The mother join'd her son.

89 Their shouts united, and each arm

90 In bold protection spread,

91 Secur'd the kid from real harm,92 Tho' now with fear half dead,

[Page 30 ]

93 Some furlongs from their cottage sill,

94 Now pass'd this anxious scene;

95 There they had left, as safe from ill,

96 The sleeping babe serene.

97 The savage bird the kid renounc'd,

98 But round the cottage oft

99 Rapid he wheel'd, and there he pounc'd,100 And bore the babe aloft.

101 Ah!---who can now that impulse paint,

102 Which fires the mother's breast?

103 Nor toil, nor danger, makes her faint;

104 She seeks this Eagle's nest.

[Page 31 ]


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105 But first with courage clear, tho' warm,

106 As guides the martial shock,

107 When British tars prepare to storm

108 A fortress on a rock.

109 She bids, to mark the Eagle's flight,110 Young Donald watch below,

111 While she will mount the craggy height,

112 And to his aerie go.

113 With filial hope her son, who knew

114 Her courage and her skill,115 Watch'd to parental orders true,

116 Magnanimously still.

[Page 32 ]

117 And now, his mother out of sight,

118 He fixt his piercing eye119 On crags, that blaz'd in solar light,

120 Whence eagles us'd to fly.

121 He saw, as far as eye may ken,

122 A crag with blood defil'd,

123 And entering this aerial den

124 The Eagle and the child.

125 The boy, tho' trusting much in God,

126 With generous fear was fill'd;127 Aware, that, if those crags she trod,

128 His mother might be kill'd.

[Page 33 ]

129 His youthful mind was not aware

130 How nature may sustain131 Life, guarded by maternal care

132 From peril, and from pain.

133 And now he sees, or thinks he sees

134 (His heart begins to pant)

135 A woman crawling on her knees,

136 Close to the Eagle's haunt.

137 It is thy mother, gallant boy,

138 Lo! up her figure springs:139 She darts, unheard, with speechless joy

140 Between the Eagle's wings.

[Page 34 ]

141 Behold! her arms its neck enchain,


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142 And clasp her babe below:

143 Th' entangled bird attempts in vain

144 Its burthen to o'erthrow.

145 Now Heaven defend thee, mother bold,146 Thy peril is extreme:

147 Thou'rt dead, if thou let go thy hold,148 Scar'd by that savage scream;

149 And bravely if thou keep it fast,

150 What yet may be thy doom!

151 This very hour may be thy last,

152 That aerie prove thy tomb.

[Page 35 ]

153 No! No! thank Heaven! O nobly done!

154 O marvellous attack!

155 I see thee riding in the sun,

156 Upon the Eagle's back.

157 In vain it buffets with its wings,158 In vain it wheels around;

159 Still screaming, in its airy rings,

160 It sinks towards the ground.

161 Run, Donald, run! she has not stirr'd,

162 And she is deadly pale:

163 She's dead; and with the dying bird

164 Descending to the vale.

[Page 36 ]

165 Lo! Donald flies.---She touches earth:

166 O form'd on earth to shine!

167 O mother of unrivall'd worth,

168 And sav'd by aid divine!

169 She lives unhurt---unhurt too lies

170 The baby in her clasp;

171 And her aerial tyrant dies

172 Just strangled in her grasp.

173 What triumph swelled in Donald's breast,

174 And o'er his features spread,175 When he his living mother prest,

176 And held the Eagle dead!

[Page 37 ]

177 Angels, who left your realms of bliss,

178 And on this parent smil'd,

179 Guard every mother brave as this,


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180 In rescuing her child!

[Page 38 ]

Hayley, William, 1745-1820: THE STAG.

BALLAD THE FOURTH. [from Ballads (1805)]

1 Blest be the boy, by virtue nurst,

2 Who knows not aught of fear's controul,3 And keeps, in peril's sudden burst,

4 The freedom of an active soul.

5 Such was a lively Tuscan boy,

6 Who lived the youthful Tasso's friend,

7 Friendship and verse his early joy,

8 And music, form'd with love to blend.

[Page 39 ]

9 Love had inspir'd his tender frame,

10 His years but two above eleven,

11 The sister of his friend his flame!

12 A lovely little light of Heaven!

13 Born in the same propitious year,

14 Together nurst, together taught;15 Each learn'd to hold the other dear,

16 In perfect unison of thought.

17 Their forms, their talents, and their talk,

18 Seem'd match'd by some angelic powers,

19 Ne'er grew upon a rose's stalk

20 A sweeter pair of social flowers.

[Page 40 ]

21 Fortunio was the stripling's name,

22 Cornelia his affection's queen,

23 Both to all eyes, where'er they came,

24 Endear'd by their attractive mien.

25 For like a pair of fairy sprites,

26 Endued with soft therial grace,27 Enrapt in musical delights

28 They hardly seem'd of mortal race!

29 Often the youth, in early morn,

30 Awak'd a social sylvan flute,

31 To notes as gay, as Dian's horn,

32 Or tender, as Apollo's lute.


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[Page 41 ]

33 Then, at his side, his sovereign fair34 Appear'd the rising day to greet,

35 Uniting to his dulcet air36 Devotion's song divinely sweet.

37 A fund of joys, that never waste,

38 Nature to this sweet pair had given;

39 Invention, harmony, and taste,

40 And fancy, brightest gift of Heaven!

41 In quest of many a new device,

42 Thro' pathless scenes they joy'd to roam,

43 Composing songs most wildly sweet,

44 Heard, with parental pride, at home.

[Page 42 ]

45 Delighted in a wood to rove,46 That near their native city spread;

47 There of its gayest flowers they wove,

48 A garland for each other's head.

49 One morn when this dear task was done,

50 And just as each the other crown'd,

51 Seeking deep shade to 'scape the sun,

52 A piteous spectacle they found.

53 It was a dead disfigur'd fawn,

54 It's milk white haunch some monster tore;55 It perish'd in that morning's dawn,

56 Nor had the sun yet dried its gore!

[Page 43 ]

57 Cornelia, nature's genuine child,

58 Caress'd the dead, with pity pale;

59 It's mangled limb, with gesture mild,

60 She shrouded in her sea-green veil.

61 The sympathetic pair agreed,

62 To form a grave without a spade;63 Bury their fawn beneath a tree,

64 And chaunt a requiem to his shade.

65 Fortunio had a rustic knife,

66 With this their feeling task they plann'd,

67 And often in a friendly strife,

68 They claim'd it from each other's hand.

[Page 44 ]


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69 But ere their tedious toil advanc'd,

70 Towards its kind and tender end,

71 Cornelia, as her quick eye glanc'd,72 Saw, what escap'd her toiling friend.

73 It was a sight that well might shake,

74 A little heart of stouter mould;

75 A sight, that made Cornelia quake,

76 And all her quivering fibres cold!

77 A furious Stag advancing sprung,78 Eager along the echoing wood,

79 As if vindictive for his young,

80 To reach the spot, where now they stood.

[Page 45 ]

81 Cornelia scarce could stand, for she82 Began her guardian to entreat;

83 Seizing his busy arm, to flee84 Far from the fawn before her feet.

85 The youth her painful terror saw,

86 And with a manly sterness said,

87 In a firm voice, inspiring awe,

88 "Cornelia I must be obeyed.

89 "True love is brave, whate'er may chance---90 "Behind this tree's protecting bole

91 "Stand thou---nor fear the Stag's advance,

92 "But trust to thy Fortunio's soul!"

[Page 46 ]

93 The faithful maid, in double dread,94 Fear'd to offend him more than death;

95 And now, as near the fierce foe sped,

96 Behind the tree, she pants for breath.

97 Yet peeping thence in fond alarm,

98 Most trembling for her guardian's life,

99 She looks, expecting that his arm

100 Would brandish his defensive knife.

101 Amazement kept the trembler mute,102 To see him hurl it far away,

103 And from his bosom pluck his flute,

104 And fearlessly begin to play.

[Page 47 ]


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105 The furious parent of the dead,

106 Marking him near his blood-stain'd young,

107 Aim'd at his breast with hostile head,

108 As near the dauntless boy he sprung.

109 But ere the branching horns could reach,

110 That object of ill-founded ire,111 Sounds of resistless magic teach

112 Submission to the savage sire.

113 The young musician richly pour'd

114 Notes from his pipe, so wond'rous sweet,

115 A rav'nous pard must have ador'd,116 And melted at the minstrel's feet.

[Page 48 ]

117 So softly plaintive was the strain,

118 No living thing unmov'd could hear,

119 What took from terror all its pain,120 And mixt delight with sorrow's tear.

121 The Stag with a pathetic grace

122 Look'd up, most eloquently mute;

123 And sighing in Fortunio's face,

124 Now lick'd the hand, that held his flute.

125 Cornelia saw, with blest relief,

126 The scene that every fear dismist;

127 And sharing all his love and grief,128 Her foe, so humaniz'd, she kist.

[Page 49 ]

129 Then by her brave musician's side,

130 She fondly claspt his honour'd hand.

131 "And give me credit now," she cried,132 "For staying at thy stern command.

133 "Henceforth, tho' plung'd in perils new,

134 "I shrink from none, if thou art near,

135 "But feel our sacred maxim true,

136 "That perfect love will cast out fear!"

137 "This Stag to thee will ever shew138 "The gratitude, thy strains inspire!

139 "And those, who soothe a parent's woe,140 "Are dear to Heaven's all-soothing sire.

[Page 50 ]

141 "Our duty to this hapless fawn

142 "We will perform, and often fly


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25 The lovely girl was call'd Catau,

26 She joy'd to make her neat hearth glow,

27 For her returning sire;

28 When from his distant toil he hied,

29 To banquet by his daughter's side,30 Before his evening fire.

[Page 54 ]

31 The child and parent liv'd alone:

32 Each to the other long had shewn

33 Such pure and perfect love,34 Comrades they wanted none beside,

35 Both cherishing, with tender pride,

36 Their Stork, who built above.

37 To their high chimney's top she sprung,

38 Protecting there three callow young,

39 Too feeble to descend:

40 But oft she visited the ground,41 And in her youthful hostess found

42 A playmate, and a friend.

[Page 55 ]

43 In scenes of social care endear'd,

44 As sure as supper time appear'd,

45 The Stork a ready guest,

46 Was constant at the damsel's side,47 And she with dainties was supplied,

48 To carry to her nest.

49 But how among the dearest brood

50 Calamity will oft intrude,

51 And fairest hopes prevent;

52 How quick can desolation's storm

53 With horrid agonies deform,54 The scene of sweet content!

[Page 56 ]

55 As early one autumnal eve,

56 Catau was eager to receive

57 Her father to his feast;58 She look'd without her door, and saw

59 Aloft a little blaze of straw,60 That in the wind encreas'd.

61 Alas! from her high chimney's top

62 A dangerous spark had chanc'd to drop,

63 And fir'd the fav'rite nest!

64 She sees the affrighted parent fly,

65 Around her young, and seem to cry,


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103 "My glorious bird," exclaims the maid,

104 Who her brave fav'rite survey'd,

105 While she expir'd above:

106 "I will not at thy lot repine,

107 "But rather pray it may be mine,108 "To die with those I love!"

[Page 61 ]

Hayley, William, 1745-1820: THE PANTHER.BALLAD THE SIXTH. [from Ballads (1805)]

1 Maternal love! thou wond'rous power,

2 By no base fears controul'd,

3 'Tis truly thine, in danger's hour,

4 To make the tender bold!

5 And yet, more marvellous! thy sway,

6 Amid the pathless wild,7 Can humanize the beast of prey!

8 And make the savage mild!

[Page 62 ]

9 A traveller, on Afric's shore,

10 Near to a forest's side,11 That shook with many a monster's roar,

12 With hasty caution hied.

13 But suddenly, full in his way,

14 A Panther he descries;

15 Athwart his very road she lay,

16 And fixt his fearful eyes.

17 With backward step, and watchful stare

18 If refuge there may be;

19 He hopes to gain, with trembling care,

20 The refuge of a tree.

[Page 63 ]

21 A fruitless hope---the Panther moves,

22 Perceiving his intent,23 And vain his utmost caution proves

24 Her purpose to prevent.

25 But no fierce purpose to destroy

26 The dreadful beast impells;

27 Her gesture, blending grief and joy,

28 Far other motive tells.


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66 An iron grate above,

67 Precluded them from chearful day,

68 And from a mother's love!

[Page 67 ]

69 But quicken'd by the touching sound,

70 The little captives made,

71 The generous Clius clear'd the ground,

72 And all the snare display'd.

73 Two vigorous cubs spring up to light,74 And to their parent haste;

75 Clius a third, in tenderer plight,

76 Within the pit embrac'd!

77 For in he leap'd, to save the young,

78 That seem'd to suffer harm;

79 And swiftly from the pit he sprung,

80 The cub beneath his arm.

[Page 68 ]

81 The conscious nursling lick'd his cheek,

82 With young endearment sweet,

83 He kiss'd, and laid it safe, tho' weak,

84 Before its parent's feet.

85 Too faint is language to describe,86 The Panther's grateful glee,

87 Contemplating her little tribe,

88 From deadly bondage free.

89 By gesture, that with meaning glows,

90 All eloquence above,

91 She largely, on her friend, bestows,

92 Protection, thanks, and love!

[Page 69 ]

93 Seeing him start, to hear a roar,

94 That spoke the lion near,

95 She guides him thro' her wood once more,

96 And banishes his fear.

97 Here (when she brought him to his road)98 Her gesture said, "we part!"

99 With friendship all her features glow'd,

100 Each movement spoke her heart.

101 He shar'd her feelings. "Bless your den,"

102 He said, as he withdrew,

103 "For gratitude has fled from men,


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32 The anxious mother saw the snake,

33 So twin'd around his arm,

34 She begged her husband to convey

35 The fondling serpent far away,

36 For fear of casual harm.

37 The happy father of the child,38 Himself a being bravely mild,

39 To her request attends;

40 Conscious such comrades could not part

41 Without great anguish of the heart,

42 He fear'd to wound the friends.

[Page 74 ]

43 They both were young, and both had shewn

44 Affection into habit grown,

45 With feelings most acute;

46 Yet to a parent's duty just,

47 Tho' griev'd to part them, part he must,48 The point bears no dispute.

49 But with a tenderness of mind

50 That prov'd him truly not inclined,

51 Their friendship to destroy;

52 He form'd a plan, and held it good,

53 To hurt as little as he could,

54 The Serpent, or the boy.

[Page 75 ]

55 To sleep he both with opiates lur'd,56 Then, in their slumber's bond secur'd,

57 See in his arms they go!

58 To woody scenes, where for the snake,

59 (There left entranc'd) when he shall wake,

60 Both food and shelter grow.

61 The slumbering boy awak'd at home,

62 And miss'd his friend, and wish'd to roam,

63 And seek the friend he miss'd:

64 But hearing all his sire had done,

65 Soon pacified, the grateful son,

66 Could not such love resist.

[Page 76 ]

67 He promis'd, for his mother's sake,

68 Not to recall his exil'd snake,

69 Nor wander to his wood;

70 He was a boy of manly soul,

71 And true to honour's just controul,

72 He made his promise good.


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73 Nature, to these divided friends

74 Now in their separate lot attends;

75 Time decks them as he flies;

76 The child, a graceful stripling grows,77 And freedom on the snake bestows,

78 A formidable size.

[Page 77 ]

79 And now it chanc'd the Arcadian youth,

80 Renown'd for courage, love and truth!81 Had sought a favourite maid;

82 Led by her tender charms to roam,

83 Forgetting distance from his home,

84 Abroad too late he stay'd,

85 Sooner indeed he meant to start,

86 To save a watchful parent's heart,

87 And not one fear excite:88 But oft, as nature's records tell,

89 Ere love can utter his farewell,90 Day melts into the night.

[Page 78 ]

91 Eager to take the shortest road,

92 That led to his remote abode,

93 He thro' a forest sped;94 There, by the moon's slow rising beam,

95 He saw a robber's faulchion gleam,

96 High brandish'd o'er his head.

97 A hunter's javelin in his hand,

98 He scorn'd the ruffian's base demand,

99 And made the wretch recoil;

100 But numbers from a thicket spring,101 The youth they hem within a ring,

102 And threaten to despoil.

[Page 79 ]

103 He, then alarm'd, calls loud for aid,

104 And sudden from the rustling shade,105 A wond'rous sound they hear.

106 The startled ruffians turned in dread;107 Some shriek'd, some shouted, and some fled,

108 Their foe approaches near.

109 Against one wretch, of form uncouth,

110 Who basely struck the encircled youth,

111 And gave his foot a wound;

112 This shadowy foe, of silent tongue,


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113 Had from his secret ambush sprung,

114 And beat him to the ground,

[Page 80 ]

115 Another, as he fled in haste,116 The youth's defender then embrac'd

117 With such a deadly clasp;

118 The villain fell, and in the strife

119 Groan'd out his miserable life,

120 In horror's speechless gasp.

121 Who can describe the youth's surprise,

122 When by the moon-beam he descries

123 The source of his escape!

124 That aid, who crush'd his murd'rous foes,

125 To meet his gratitude now rose.

126 And in a serpent's shape.

[Page 81 ]

127 "My Zoe!" (hear him now exclaim)

128 The child had by that fondling name,

129 Been used his snake to call:

130 The reptile heard, and at the sound

131 Began, with pitying care, around

132 His wounded foot to crawl.

133 The blood she staunch'd, with tender tongue,134 Then higher to his hand she sprung,

135 And lick'd with fond caress!

136 Her gestures all this truth declare,137 "Thy Zoe makes thy life her care,

138 "And joys in her success!"

[Page 82 ]

139 The wasting night now wears away;

140 The youth's fond mother at his stay,

141 To fear maternal yields;

142 And doubting of some dire mischance,

143 She hurries, ere the morn's advance,

144 To seek him in the fields.

145 With what delight, with what amaze,

146 Her eye her smiling son surveys,147 And rolling by his side,

148 A serpent of triumphant air,

149 Who seems his fond regard to share,

150 And serve him as a guide!

[Page 83 ]


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151 For faithful Zoe would attend

152 The footsteps of her wounded friend,

153 'Till he at home may rest;

154 His mother learnt her wond'rous truth,155 And clasping the dear rescued youth,

156 His brave confederate blest!

157 Zoe no more condemn'd to roam,

158 Now grew an inmate of their home:

159 The snake at Athens rear'd,

160 The symbol of Minerva's power,

161 Lodg'd as her servant in her tower,162 Was never more rever'd.

[Page 84 ]

163 Zoe was the delight of all,

164 Obedient to each friendly call,

165 From all she honour won;166 But her the mother most caresst,

167 And fondly shew'd to every guest,168 The guardian of her son!

[Page 85 ]

Hayley, William, 1745-1820: THE FATAL HORSE.BALLAD THE EIGHTH. [from Ballads (1805)]

1 Of creatures that to man attend,

2 His pastime, or his wealth;

3 The Horse we cherish as a friend,

4 To sickness and to health.

5 Bless them, who shield a steed from woe,

6 By age from toil releas'd!

7 And hated be the proud, who shew

8 No mercy to their beast!

[Page 86 ]

9 A wretch once doom'd, tho' rich and strong,

10 His faithful horse to bleed,11 But tell his fate, my moral song,

12 For that atrocious deed!

13 An antient knight, of Kentish race;

14 Of his athletic frame

15 Prone to indulge the passions base,

16 Sir Geoffrin his name,


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17 Against a priest indulg'd his rage,

18 Who charitably good,

19 To shield a widow's helpless age,

20 His avarice withstood.

[Page 87 ]

21 With abject choler fierce and hot,

22 The knight perforce would gain,

23 And blend her little garden plot,

24 With his superb domain.

25 The priest, who, on that very ground,

26 To soothe his wrath would strive,

27 In frantic passion's fit he bound,

28 And buried him alive!

29 The wretch was seiz'd with shame and fear,

30 Tho' he his crime would boast:31 When suddenly he chanc'd to hear,

32 His king lay off the coast!

[Page 88 ]

33 'Twas gallant Harold, in that day,

34 Elate with regal power;

35 Becalm'd his stately vessel lay,

36 Near Geoffrin's high tower.

37 The royal mercy to surprize,

38 He now resolves with speed;39 "Haste, hither bring," he wildly cries,

40 "My strongest favourite steed."

41 It was a steed of noblest kind,

42 In spirit and in limb,43 On which the desp'rate knight design'd

44 To the king's ship to swim!

[Page 89 ]

45 Now by the swelling ocean's side,

46 He mounts his courser brave!47 Spurs him with domineering pride,

48 And plunges in the wave!

49 Us'd to his bold caprices oft,

50 And equal to his weight,

51 The courser toss'd his mane aloft,

52 And swam with breast elate.

53 The knight now flourishes his sword,


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92 Struck by two adverse gales.

[Page 93 ]

93 A doubt by superstition nurst,

94 Made all just thoughts recede;95 Frantic he wav'd his sword, and pierc'd

96 His life-preserving steed!

97 "Thy prophecies I thus destroy,"

98 He cried, "thou wretched crone;

99 "Threats on my days no more employ,100 "But tremble for thy own."

101 Striding away, his steed he left

102 In his pure blood to roll,

103 He quickly, of all aid bereft,

104 Breath'd out his nobler soul.

[Page 94 ]

105 The boastful knight, now gay with pride

106 By his successful crimes,

107 Floating on folly's golden tide,

108 Prosper'd in stormy times.

109 Ungrateful both to man and beast

110 His sovereign he betray'd,

111 And lent, ere Harold's empire ceas'd,112 The Norman treacherous aid.

113 The Norman tyrant much carest114 This proud and abject slave,

115 And lands, by worthier lords possest,

116 For his base succour gave.

[Page 95 ]

117 Now years, since that eventful hour,

118 In which his courser bled,

119 Had pour'd increase of wealth and pow'r

120 On his aspiring head.

121 As near, with much enlarged estate,122 To his domain he drew;

123 He chanc'd, before his castle gate,124 A signal scene to view.

125 The scene his war-steel'd nerves could shock,

126 Seated on mossy stones

127 The widow, leaning 'gainst a rock,

128 Wept o'er his horse's bones.


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[Page 96 ]

129 Enrag'd from his new steed he vaults,

130 Quick with his foot to spurn131 These bones, that bid his bloody faults

132 To his base mind return.

133 The head, now bleach'd, his proud foot strikes

134 With such indignant speed,

135 The bone its fierce aggressor spikes;

136 It is his turn to bleed.

137 The trivial wound the wrathful knight

138 Disdains to search with care,

139 But soon he finds, the wound tho' slight,

140 Death lurks in ambush there.

[Page 97 ]

141 Now to his bed of sorrow bound,

142 By penitential pain,143 He seems, by this heart-reaching wound,

144 A purer mind to gain.

145 Near to his couch he bids, with care,

146 The widow to be brought,

147 And speaks to her, with soften'd air,

148 His self-correcting thought.

149 "True prophetess! I feel thee now;

150 "So God my crimes forgive,

151 "As I with thee true concord vow:152 "In comfort may'st thou live.

[Page 98 ]

153 "Behold upon this charter'd scroll,

154 "A pictur'd cottage stand,

155 "I give it thee, with all my soul,

156 "And its adjacent land.

157 "The only rent I will assume,

158 "Be this. At close of day,

159 "Sit thou, with pity, on my tomb,160 "And for my spirit pray!

161 "That tomb be rais'd by sculpture's aid,

162 "To warn men from my guilt;

163 "My horse's head beside me laid,

164 "Whose blood I basely spilt!"

[Page 99 ]


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165 He spoke, he died, the tomb was made,

166 His statue look'd to Heaven!

167 And daily then the widow pray'd,

168 His crimes might be forgiven!

[Page 100 ]

Hayley, William, 1745-1820: THE LION.

BALLAD THE NINTH. [from Ballads (1805)]

1 Lovely woman! how brave is thy soul,

2 When duty and love are combin'd!

3 Then danger in vain would controul

4 Thy tender, yet resolute mind.

5 Boulla thus in an African glade,6 In her season of beauty and youth,

7 In the deadliest danger display'd8 All the quick-sighted courage of truth.

[Page 101 ]

9 Tho' the wife of a peasant, yet none

10 Her grandeur of heart rose above;

11 And her husband was nature's true son12 In simplicity, labour, and love.

13 'Twas his task, and he manag'd it well,14 The herd of his master to guide,

15 Where a marshy and desolate dell

16 Daily drink to the cattle supplied.

17 In this toil a dear playfellow shar'd,18 A little, brave, sensible boy!

19 Who nobly for manhood prepar'd,

20 Made every kind office his joy.

[Page 102 ]

21 One day as the dell they drew near,22 They perceiv'd all the cattle around

23 Starting wild, in tumultuous fear,24 As if thunder had shaken the ground.

25 The peasant, in wonder and awe,

26 Keenly search'd for the cause of their fright;

27 Very soon it's just motive he saw,

28 And he shudder'd himself at the sight;


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29 For couch'd in the midst of the glade

30 An enormous fierce Lion he view'd;

31 His eye-balls shot flame thro' the shade,

32 And with gore his vast jaw was imbru'd

[Page 103 ]

33 "Fly boy to thy mother, be sure!

34 "Dear child do not tremble for me!

35 "I fear not if thou art secure;

36 "I shall 'scape in the limbs of a tree."

37 He spoke, flying light as the breeze,

38 His cattle were scatter'd before,

39 Them he thought that the Lion would seize,

40 And for human food hunger no more.

41 But athirst for the blood of a man,

42 All the herd he in fury disdain'd;

43 And leapt at the bough, as he ran,44 Which the peasant had rapidly gain'd.

[Page 104 ]

45 He leapt, but he fail'd of his prey;

46 For the peasant was happily higher:

47 Beneath him, indignant, he lay,

48 And watch'd him with vigilant ire.

49 The boy had his father obey'd,

50 And ran for his rustic abode;

51 And oft turning, that father survey'd,52 And hardly remember'd his road.

53 But when, with a burst of delight,

54 His father he saw in a tree,

55 He lost all his sense of affright,56 And his terror was turn'd into glee.

[Page 105 ]

57 Then quick to his mother he sped,

58 And quickly his story he told:

59 As she heard it, she sudder'd with dread;60 But love made her suddenly bold.

61 She remember'd, that oft to her boy

62 She a lesson of archery gave:

63 Then the bow she resolv'd to employ,

64 And by courage his father to save.

65 Soon forth from a curious old chest

66 A bundle of arrows she drew;


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[Page 109 ]

105 Good angels! her arrow direct!106 On its flight these dear beings depend,

107 Whose kindness, by danger uncheck'd,108 Has deserv'd to find Heaven their friend.

109 See the beast! Lo! his eye-balls yet burn,

110 On his prey he still gloats, with a yawn,

111 Yet the woman he does not discern;

112 And her bow is undauntedly drawn.

113 O love! it is thine to impart

114 Such force, as none else can bestow---

115 She has shot with the strength of her heart,

116 She has pierced her infuriate foe.

[Page 110 ]

117 While his jaws were enormously spread,118 (The truth of her archery see!)

119 Thro' his cheek her sure arrow has sped;

120 It fastens his flesh to the tree.

121 Too soon of her conquest secure,

122 She runs within reach of his claw,

123 But in tortures he cannot endure,

124 He has struck her to earth with his paw.

125 Lo! anxious the peasant descends:

126 Good peasant no more be afraid!127 Heaven sent her the bravest of friends,

128 In the boy who has rush'd to her aid.

[Page 111 ]

129 Before thou couldst spring to the ground,

130 Her boy made her triumph complete;

131 And contriving a marvellous wound,

132 He has stretch'd her foe dead at her feet.

133 From the tree by his struggles releas'd,

134 While he roll'd in his own blood afloat135 Brave Demba ran up to the beast,

136 And darted ten shafts in his throat.

137 Their poisons collected afford

138 Lethargic relief to his pangs;

139 And Death! of all nature the lord!

140 Thy shadows now rest on his fangs.

[Page 112 ]


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29 Her garden had a terrace fair,

30 Beneath it, full the river flow'd,

31 There she enjoyed the evening air,

32 Her favourite Swan there proudly row'd.

[Page 116 ]

33 The mother in her active arms,

34 To make her boy benignly mild;

35 And nobly proof 'gainst all alarms,

36 There oft would exercise her child.

37 A boat-house by the terrace side,

38 Shelter'd a small and simple boat:

39 And sometimes half way o'er the tide

40 Chain'd to its home, it us'd to float.

41 Here she, her infant, and her maid,

42 Sport with the Swan, and give it bread;43 While her gay boy, of nought afraid,

44 With lively transport sees it fed.

[Page 117 ]

45 'Tis June---a sultry tempest wild

46 Impends, Cecilia would retire,

47 But checks herself to teach her child,

48 The vivid light'ning to admire.

49 Her noble mind delights to rear

50 In early fortitude, her boy;51 That he the voice of God may hear,

52 With admiration's awful joy!

53 While to regain the vessel's shed,

54 Her maid an active pilot stands;55 She to the music o'er her head,

56 Dances the child with dauntless hands.

[Page 118 ]

57 But whirlwinds rise: the vessel reel'd,

58 Heaven! the sweet parent is o'erthrown:59 Her falling head she fails to shield,

60 Attentive to her child alone.

61 'Tis the tornado's ruthless blast;

62 The mother stunn'd, the babe it bears.

63 Far from her senseless frame! aghast

64 The maid, in speechless horror glares!

65 Yet swiftly to its proper shore,


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104 The present of her feather'd friend.

[Page 122 ]

105 Now with delight the rescued boy,

106 To her maternal bosom springs:107 The conscious Swan partakes their joy,

108 And claps her proud triumphant wings.

109 Cecilia bends to weep and pray,

110 She weeps with joy, no longer wan;

111 And still on this returning day,112 Blesses the heaven-directed Swan!

[Page 123 ]

Hayley, William, 1745-1820: THE HERMIT'S DOG.BALLAD THE ELEVENTH. [from Ballads (1805)]

1 Of dogs who sav'd a living friend,

2 Most nobly, ye have read:

3 Now to a nobler still attend,

4 A guardian of the dead.

5 As o'er wild Alpine scenes I stray'd,

6 Not far from that retreat,7 Where Bruno, with celestial aid.

8 First plann'd his sacred seat.

[Page 124 ]

9 An anchorite of noble mien,

10 Attracted my regard;11 Majestic as that savage scene,

12 Or as a Cambrian bard.

13 He to no silent dome belongs,

14 The rock is his domain;

15 It echoes to his nightly songs

16 Devotion's lonely strain.

17 His mansion is a tranquil grot,

18 Form'd in the living stone:19 My view of the sequester'd spot,

20 I owe to chance alone.

[Page 125 ]

21 For happening near his cell to rove,


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60 Delighted and amaz'd!

61 "If I disturb thy calm retreat,

62 "Divinely calm indeed,

63 "The noble servant at thy feet,64 "May for my pardon plead.

65 "That noble servant in my sight

66 "Whom strength and grace adorn,

67 "Announces, if I read aright,

68 "A master nobly born."

[Page 129 ]

69 The sire replied, with graceful bend,

70 "No not my servant, he!

71 "A noble independent friend,

72 "He deigns to live with me!

73 "But, stranger, if you kindly rest,74 "His story you shall hear,

75 "And all that makes my sable guest,76 "Most singularly dear.

77 "Here it has been my chosen lot,

78 "Some awful years to spend!

79 "Few months have pass'd, since near this spot

80 "I gain'd this signal friend.

[Page 130 ]

81 "This friend, with whom to live and die,82 "Is now my dearest aim;

83 "He likes the world no more than I,

84 "And Hero is his name.

85 "Some two miles off, as near a wood,86 "Of deepest gloom I stray'd;

87 "Struck by strange sounds, I wond'ring stood,

88 "They echoed from the shade.

89 "First like a noise in troubled dreams,

90 "But soon distinct I heard,

91 "A dog's triumphant bark, and screams,

92 "That spoke a dying bird.

[Page 131 ]

93 "A bird of loud portentous note,

94 "One of the vulture race,

95 "Which shepherds will to death devote.

96 "In sanguinary chace.


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135 "With stone above I shield him well,

136 "And laurels round I spread.

137 "Oft to the spot with mournful praise,

138 "The mindful Hero springs,139 "And in such notes, as he can raise,

140 "A requiem he sings.

[Page 135 ]

141 "Dear faithful dog! if man to me

142 "Had half thy virtue shewn,143 "From social life I should not flee,

144 "To roam the wild alone!

145 "No! not alone, nor yet in woe,

146 "While here thy virtues shine,

147 "For I defy the world to shew

148 "Associate like to mine!"

149 The dog, he now press'd to his heart,

150 Then utter'd this desire;151 "Stranger if thine a poet's art,

152 "Let Hero wake thy lyre!"

[Page 136 ]

153 His wish was kind---may love so true,

154 Ne'er want its wishes long:155 Thus from his fond suggestion grew,

156 This tributary song.

[Page 137 ]

Hayley, William, 1745-1820: THE HALCYON.

BALLAD THE TWELFTH. [from Ballads (1805)]

1 Not only men of stormy minds,

2 The storms of trouble know,

3 All creatures of this earth must find

4 A share of earthly woe!

5 Ye whose pure hearts with pity swell,6 For pain by all incurr'd;

7 Hear how affliction once befell,

8 Serenity's sweet bird.

[Page 138 ]


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9 Ye fair, who in your carols praise

10 The Halcyon's happy state;

11 Hear in compassionate amaze,

12 One Halcyon's hapless fate.

13 A nymph, Selina is her name,

14 Lovely in mind and mien,15 When spring, however early, came,

16 Was fond of walks marine.

17 Between a woman and a child,

18 In tender charms she grew,

19 And lov'd with fancy sweetly wild,20 The lonely shore to view.

[Page 139 ]

21 Nature she studied, every spring,

22 To all her offspring kind,

23 And taught the birds of wildest wing,24 To trust her gentle mind.

25 Now brilliant in her youthful eye,

26 The Halcyon's feathers flame;

27 She wish'd a pair of these, tho' shy,

28 Affectionately tame.

29 Nor wish'd she long, for such her care,

30 Such her attractive skill;

31 She makes e'en rovers of the air,32 Attentive to her will.

[Page 140 ]

33 When stormy March had ceas'd to roar,

34 Selina joy'd to rove;

35 And watch a Halcyon on the shore,36 Within a little cove.

37 Familiariz'd by slow degrees,

38 They met in friendly mood;

39 'Till her bright favourite on her knees,

40 Would perch for offer'd food.

41 How joyous was Selina's breast,42 When thus she had prevail'd;

43 Each coming of her radiant guest,44 How tenderly she hail'd.

[Page 141 ]

45 It seem'd her guest, so frequent here,

46 The damsel us'd to roam;


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47 And deem'd this little cove so dear,

48 Her palace and her home.

49 When April's sun the coast had warm'd,

50 New joy the nymph possest:51 She saw her favourite bird had form'd,

52 A curious downy nest.

53 How did her tender heart rejoice,

54 What prayers she then preferred,

55 That she might with her tuneful voice,

56 Delight the brooding bird.

[Page 142 ]

57 Gay nature smil'd, the prayer she blest,

58 Selina softly sung;

59 And felt delight of higher zest;

60 She nurst the callow young.

61 But Oh! when human pleasures rise,

62 To enviable height;63 How subtly dark misfortune flies,

64 To crush them in her flight.

65 One morn, as nigh the cove so dear,

66 The quick Selina came:

67 A sight, which caus'd her grievous fear,

68 Convuls'd her tender frame!

[Page 143 ]

69 Near it she draws, but entrance there

70 A swelling sea denies;

71 For hostile to her callow care,

72 The cruel waters rise.

73 Close to this cove's contracted side,

74 Three massive stones were laid;

75 Oft in bare sand, now scarce descried,

76 Fresh surges round them play'd.

77 To one, the nearest to the cell,

78 Alarm'd, Selina wades;

79 To mark how far the wild wave's swell,80 Her darling cove invades.

[Page 144 ]

81 Behold she kneels! with folded hands,

82 Kneels on the rugged stone:

83 Whence now her anxious eye commands,

84 The cell once deem'd her own!


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122 How pants her heart with dread,

123 As she beholds her favourite bird

124 Now fluttering o'er her head.

125 That flutter is the gasp of death!126 As conscious of it's nest,

127 It breathes to her its parting breath,128 And falls upon her breast!

[Page 148 ]

129 Weep not sweet nymph, with vain regret,130 Your favourite's lifeless state;

131 But rather think that it has met

132 An enviable fate.

133 Yes! to this gentle bird indeed,

134 It's mercy Heaven has shewn;

135 And in it's end you now may read

136 An emblem of your own.

137 When you, dear nymph, have suffer'd all138 Your share of earthly woe;

139 O may that portion be as small

140 As mortal e'er may know!

[Page 149 ]

141 Close in a death, like infant's rest,142 Those heaven-reflecting eyes;

143 And dropping on an angel's breast,

144 Be wafted to the skies!

[Page 150 ]

Hayley, William, 1745-1820: THE SERPENTS.

BALLAD THE THIRTEENTH. [from Ballads (1805)]

1 Now blest be Providence divine,

2 Surpassing human skill!

3 That often takes from things malign,4 The privilege of ill.

5 Good folks! who love a simple strain,

6 That seems like fancy's sound;

7 Rejoicing, when in nature's reign,

8 The marvellous is found,

[Page 151 ]


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9 As strange a tale, as history knows,

10 Accept in artless rhyme:

11 An honest Greek relates in prose,

12 This wonder of old time.

13 The antients gloried to describe,14 And held such wonders dear;

15 For of the Psylli's signal tribe,

16 'Twas their delight to hear.

17 The Psylli were an Afric clan,

18 Of wond'rous power possest;19 Fierce snakes, of enmity to man,

20 They could with ease divest.

[Page 152 ]

21 This gift they boasted with delight,

22 A gift to them confin'd;23 Exemption from the viper's bite,

24 Of most malignant kind.

25 This native gift they deem'd a test,

26 To prove their genuine race;

27 By every true-born child possest,

28 Not granted to the base!

29 In brains that burn from Afric suns,

30 Mad jealousy will rise,31 'Till thro' the heart the frenzy runs,

32 And bursts all tender ties.

[Page 153 ]

33 A Lybian of this far fam'd clan,

34 Had dream'd his wife untrue,35 And soon the madd'ning wretch began

36 His child with hate to view.

37 That child, which till his fatal dream

38 Was from base slander bred;

39 The happy sire, with joy extreme,

40 Had fondled, blest, and fed.

41 And never infant more deserv'd

42 To prove his father's joy:43 Of two years old, and nobly nerv'd,

44 A brave Herculean boy.

[Page 154 ]

45 Nature, with passion, long at strife,


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46 Contended in his breast;

47 'Till to expose his infant's life,

48 He form'd a deadly test!

49 No common trial would suffice,50 For his suspicious mind;

51 His rage a trial would devise,52 Of most tremendous kind.

53 Sansado, so the wretch was nam'd,

54 A cruel brother taught:

55 With equal jealousy inflam'd,

56 To aid his barb'rous thought.

[Page 155 ]

57 Him, many a deadly snake to feed,

58 Sansado would engage;

59 And more, by many a noxious weed,

60 Exasperate their rage.

61 And now the settled day arrives,62 Fixt for their savage joy;

63 To risk two unprotected lives,

64 Poor Neela and her boy.

65 For if, so jealous rage decreed,

66 One reptile wounds the child;

67 Neela upon that couch must bleed,

68 They think she has defil'd.

[Page 156 ]

69 God save thee Neela in a strife,

70 By nature's heart abhorr'd:

71 And God defend each hapless wife,

72 Who has a jealous lord!

73 But see the brothers, bent on ill!

74 Neela yet kind and calm,

75 Beholds a knot of Snakes, that fill

76 A basket made of palm!

77 No fear her blameless mind alarms:

78 But quick with scornful joy,79 One basely holds her by the arms;

80 One grasps her fondling boy.

[Page 157 ]

81 The sire himself, with gesture wild,

82 His thoughtless offspring takes;

83 And seats his unoffending child


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84 Amidst these angry Snakes!

85 Angry at first, they foam'd around

86 The boy, who on them prest;

87 He unappall'd sat gayly crown'd,88 With many a shining crest!

89 Stretching his little hands he play'd,

90 Unconscious of a fear,

91 With all the monsters he survey'd,

92 And smil'd at every spear.

[Page 158 ]

93 Now free, but with a fixt disdain,

94 Behold the mother stand!

95 She frowns upon the brothers twain,

96 Nor takes the proffer'd hand.

97 "Do not, dear wife, my kindness shun,98 "Henceforth my comfort be;

99 "And let us jointly bless my son,100 "Who witnesses for thee;"

101 So with quick speed Sansado cried,

102 With mingled joy and shame:

103 The noble Neela, thus replied,

104 With eyes of temperate flame.

[Page 159 ]

105 "No, I renounce thee, and thy roof:106 "For Heaven who shields my young,

107 "Bids me abjure thy love, not proof

108 "'Gainst slander's vip'rous tongue.

109 "It is my duty to desert110 "A guard I must despise:

111 "Farewell weak man, my child unhurt

112 "On Providence relies.

113 "Now brave; a coward he might turn

114 "Beneath thy base controul;

115 "But from his mother he shall learn,

116 "The empire of the soul."

[Page 160 ]

117 She spoke, she kept, with truth most rare,

118 Her purpose nobly wild,

119 And made, by her maternal care,

120 A hero of her child.


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[Page 161 ]

Hayley, William, 1745-1820: THE GOAT.

BALLAD THE FOURTEENTH. [from Ballads (1805)]

1 "Can mothers of our English isle,

2 The pride of all the earth,

3 From any tribe of tender brutes,

4 A mother's duty learn?"5 So to a shepherd of the Alps,

6 A guest of noble birth,

7 A traveller of English race

8 Said on the swain's return;

[Page 162 ]

9 When bringing to his simple cot

10 A Goat of signal grace,11 He, to his foreign guest, display'd

12 The ornament she wore;

13 It was a splendid silver toy,

14 It's folds her neck embrace,

15 And it's rich centre, highly wrought,

16 This grateful motto bore:

17 Dear animal! this trinket wear,18 Mark of thy mental beauty!

19 For teaching to an English fair,

20 A mother's highest duty!

[Page 163 ]

21 "Good shepherd thou hast much to tell,22 Some curious tender tale,

23 Thy kindness I with joy accept,

24 To rest beneath thy roof;

25 For now I see an evening storm

26 Is sweeping o'er the vale,

27 And here in this thy airy nest

28 I well can sleep aloof.

29 But tell me, who has so adorn'd

30 Thy tame and pretty Goat?"---31 "Ah! sir, (the white-hair'd shepherd said,)

32 It was a lovely fair;

33 A lady of the sweetest face

34 That ever eyes could note,

35 But she was plung'd in darkest depths

36 Of cruel craz'd despair.


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79 (The beauteous mourner meekly cried

80 Approaching to our cot:)

81 Your pity, to my babe and me,

82 Good aged friends! may give

83 All that we ask; to die with you,84 To die, and be forgot!

[Page 167 ]

85 'Twas so the piteous pilgrim spake,

86 With eyes that glisten'd wild;

87 For privilege to die with you,88 We give you all our gold;

89 For bitterer want, than want of wealth,

90 For want of love my child,

91 My child, must, like his mother, waste,

92 And both will soon be cold!

93 So speaking, to my dame she held

94 A lovely little boy,95 Who speechless, yet seem'd sorely griev'd

96 To see his mother weep;97 My good old dame is soft of heart,

98 And children are her joy;

99 So she, who cherished both her guests,

100 Soon lull'd the babe to sleep.

[Page 168 ]

101 But sleep to that sweet lady's eyes

102 Had seem'd to bid farewell,

103 And sometimes she would wildly say,104 There's but one sleep for me!

105 So deep her woe sunk in her heart:

106 Tho' she was loath to tell,

107 My tender dame, discreetly guess'd,

108 What that deep woe must be.

109 By cruel man, of cruel things,

110 Most cruel in his love!

111 This suffering innocent had been

112 To darkest frenzy driven;

113 Tho' in it's nature her soft heart

114 Is gentle as a dove,

115 And, save one frantic thought, ne'er had116 A fault to be forgiven!

[Page 169 ]

117 That frantic thought was a desire,

118 To end her wretched life;

119 But you shall hear how nature strove

120 To soothe her stormy breast:


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[Page 172 ]

165 It was my little darling Goat

166 Who cherishing the boy,167 With copious draughts of morning milk

168 His grateful lips supplied;169 Her tears burst forth: she kneel'd, she pray'd,

170 But now she pray'd in joy,

171 For Heaven had kindled in her breast

172 A mother's vital pride.

173 O how angelic was the light174 That on her visage shone!

175 When now returning to our cot

176 Her old friends she carest:

177 And, all her wild delirium past,

178 With self-reproof made known,

179 The gracious wonders God had wrought,

180 In her enlighten'd breast!

[Page 173 ]

181 Your blessed Goat, my friends, she said,

182 With your indulgent leave,

183 My comrade, thro' my future life

184 My monitor shall be;

185 For now with heart-reform'd, I hope,

186 I, not too late, perceive,

187 How Heaven this tender creature sent,188 Tho' dumb, to lecture me.

189 I wish that all the earth might know,190 For suffering pride's relief,

191 How this heaven-guided animal

192 In scenes so roughly wild;

193 A wicked mother has reclaim'd

194 Who lost in selfish grief,195 Neglected nature's highest charge,

196 The nursing of her child!

[Page 174 ]

197 'Twas wounded pride, my good old friends,

198 My heart you will not blame,199 That rack'd my agonizing breast,

200 And set my brain on fire;201 The thought to fall from honour's sphere

202 In undeserved shame,

203 And see my baby, and myself,

204 The torment of his sire!

205 No! No! his torment tho' preserv'd,

206 Our lives shall never prove,


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207 His hard desertion we forgive!

208 Desertion by constraint:

209 From every angry passion free

210 My lips shall only move,

211 To utter blessings on his head,212 And never breathe complaint.

[Page 175 ]

213 Tho' of our marriage every proof

214 Has basely been suppresst,

215 By his proud father's cruel guile216 To wrong my babe and me:"---

217 "My God!" (the traveller exclaims)

218 By hope and doubt distrest,

219 Shepherd, if you would save my life,

220 That lady let me see!"

221 "You must be patient noble sir,"

222 The gentle swain rejoins,223 For she beneath her brother's care,

224 With my good dame her guide,225 This morning to our city went

226 That in the valley shines,

227 Upon a safe and easy mule,

228 By turns to walk and ride."

[Page 176 ]

229 "Beneath her brother's care---you say,

230 Then all my hope is fled,

231 Yet no---perchance from India come,232 Heard you that brother's name?"

233 "O yes! from India come, like one

234 Returning from the dead;

235 My blest Horatio, oft to him

236 His sister would exclaim!"---

237 "Enough, good Heaven!" in transport now,

238 In transport fondly wild,

239 The stranger clasp'd the good old swain

240 With tears of tender glee;

241 "My father! yes!" he cried, "thy care

242 Has sav'd my wife and child!

243 And as a father to my heart244 Henceforward thou shalt be.

[Page 177 ]

245 Their sufferings rose not from my fault,

246 But from the fault of one,

247 Whom Heaven has call'd to his account,

248 Whose faults I wish to hide;


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249 But vanish all ye sorrows past

250 In joy's effulgent sun,

251 And that sweet sufferer quick to cheer,

252 Good father be my guide!"

253 "Ah noble sir! if you bestow

254 So dear a name on me,255 Allow me, with a father's fears,

256 To check your hasty joy;

257 If you surprise her heart with bliss

258 So wond'rous in degree,

259 That tender frame, you wish to save,

260 You surely will destroy.

[Page 178 ]

261 Be patient here, good sir, to night,

262 As was your first intent,

263 And by to-morrow's noon your eyes

264 Shall look on their delight;265 For hither they will all return,

266 As kindly as they went,267 And truly when you see them all,

268 You'll see a goodly sight.

269 But you must let my careful age

270 Your eager love restrain,

271 And suffer me in my odd guise,

272 Your lady to prepare;

273 To meet a burst of mortal bliss274 That might o'erset the brain

275 Of such a tender feeling soul,

276 Most delicately fair.

[Page 179 ]

277 Ah sir! old shepherd as I seem,278 I know the sex full well,

279 In truth I studied nought beside,

280 In all my early life;

281 And underneath the cope of Heaven,

282 No lady can there dwell,

283 More worthy of the fondest care,

284 Than your angelic wife."

285 The good old man so charm'd his guest,

286 As they familiar grew,287 The stranger to his guidance bent,

288 Tho' born of spirit high:

289 At last the long'd-for hour was come,

290 On what slow wings it flew!

291 But now the dear returning group,

292 They from the hill descry.


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[Page 180 ]

293 When he his distant friends espied,

294 The fondly anxious swain,295 Station'd his guest, with beating heart,

296 Behind his cottage door;297 And, in concealment, made him vow,

298 That he would fixt remain,

299 While cautious age pursued it's plan,

300 Within the porch before.

301 For there a spacious shady porch,302 Rais'd by the shepherd's skill,

303 With creeping foliage sweetly grac'd,

304 Presents a pleasant seat;

305 Most grateful to the pilgrim's sight

306 Just mounted up the hill,

307 And there the shepherd and the Goat,

308 Now wait their friends to greet.

[Page 181 ]

309 And soon his favourite dog announced

310 His near approaching dame,

311 Who mounted on her mule arrived,

312 Before her youngest guest;

313 Supported by her brother's arm

314 The sweet Amelia came,

315 And bearing, with maternal pride,316 Her baby on her breast.

317 Seeing the Goat, the lively babe318 Put forth his hands and smil'd;

319 The mother blest the grateful act

320 With smiles of sweeter grace,

321 And held him to his guardian nurse,

322 While the delighted child323 Suffer'd the Goat's soft shaggy lips

324 To fondle o'er his face!

[Page 182 ]

325 "My Goat and I are prophets both!"

326 The eager shepherd cried,327 "We both discover wond'rous good,

328 And time will make it clear:329 Good for this heaven-protected babe,

330 Our nursling and our pride,

331 We of Amelia's lord have heard,

332 What she will joy to hear."

333 "Yes, tho' he must not live for me,

334 I in his life rejoice!"


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13 It chanc'd in Circassia a lovely young maid,

14 On her beautiful neck wore a crescent of gold,

15 Hermossan, her lover, the trinket survey'd,

16 And wish'd in his bosom the gem to infold.

17 A Baya he cherished, the first of its kind,

18 At a call to accomplish his master's behest;19 This bird, who display'd both a heart, and a mind,

20 He commission'd to rifle fair Azima's breast.

[Page 186 ]

21 The bird's gentle manners she often had prais'd,

22 And begg'd from her lover a vassal so sweet;

23 "To the honour of serving you he shall be rais'd,"

24 Said her lover, "whenever his skill is complete."

25 The extent of his talents the youth wish'd to find,

26 As the bird with new lessons he daily carest;

27 To his skill and obedience this charge he assigned,28 To bring him the crescent from Azima's breast.

29 The bird who himself lov'd the damsel to court,

30 On her shoulder first perch'd with endearment and joy;

31 With his beak he then snapt it's strong silken support,

32 And bore from her bosom the glittering toy.

[Page 187 ]

33 The nymph half in anger the plunderer chac'd,

34 But she fail'd to regain or the gem, or the cord;

35 For gayly he flew; and with rapturous haste,36 His plunder consigned to the hand of his lord.

37 Hermossan was charm'd, when the bird he perceiv'd,

38 And more was he charm'd when the damsel advanc'd,

39 For the nymph too in haste, half delighted, half griev'd,40 Demanded the crescent, on which her eye glanc'd.

41 'Twas a charm Turkish hands had once fixt on her neck,

42 But a charm that her lover refus'd to replace;

43 "Thy hand my dear girl, with a gem let me deck,

44 Of more magical force, of more luminous grace!

[Page 188 ]

45 My bird and my ring, both of wonderous power!

46 Dear Azima! now as thy treasures receive;

47 For they both shall be thine, they are virtue's just dower

48 And thro' life may they never my Azima leave.

49 For O! if they leave thee, or lost, or destroy'd,

50 That bliss, which our union I trust will ensure,


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51 Must vanish, and leave in each heart such a void,

52 That our permanent anguish no magic can cure."

53 He spoke, and the bird on her shoulder he plac'd,

54 Then pressing the hand of his delicate fair;55 That hand with a ring of one ruby he grac'd,

56 With a motto in Arabic, "never despair!"

[Page 189 ]

57 "Let these words my sweet love be a shield to thy heart,

58 While I from thy sight am by fortune debarr'd;59 For a journey of months I to-morrow depart,

60 But love will restore me, thy husband! thy guard!

61 They kiss'd, and they parted: 'twas fortune's behest,

62 Who rules over love with a tyrannous sway;

63 But the nymph kiss'd her ring, and her bird she carest,

64 When her eye could no longer Hermossan survey.

65 She said, as she play'd with her vigilant bird,

66 "Thy name be Anglama, thou best of thy kind:"67 Anglama to her a significant word,

68 Express'd all the light of a luminous mind.

[Page 190 ]

69 The bird seem'd with joy his new title to feel,

70 At the sound of Anglama his eye was a flame,71 That flashed with intelligence, duty, and zeal,

72 Her behests he obeyed at the sound of his name.

73 To prove and reward him, was Azima's pride,

74 As round her he flew, upon liberty's wing;

75 In her chamber she oft her lov'd ruby would hide,

76 And exclaim, my Anglama, "go seek for my ring!"

77 However concealed the quick bird was so keen,

78 He never once failed to bring back the lost gem;

79 To his mistress he gave it with gesture serene,

80 Her sweet-meats repaid him; he lived upon them.

[Page 191 ]

81 How often the sport of an innocent breast,

82 Is by Providence favour'd for some gracious end,83 And gentle dumb creatures, with kindness carest,

84 That kindness repay in the shape of a friend!

85 But little sweet Azima dreamt, as she taught,

86 Her bird thus to play with a jewel so dear;

87 That the lesson his love with alacrity caught,

88 Might soothe her with hope, in a season of fear.


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89 That season approaches, gay Azima grew

90 Of an old helpless father, the pride and the heir;

91 Her treasures were coveted not by a few,

92 And by one, of a heart not inclined to despair.

[Page 192 ]

93 Hermossan's chief rival, an arrogant youth,

94 An Armenian his father! his mother a Turk!

95 That mother, more noted for cunning, than truth,

96 On Azima's fancy had studied to work.

97 The crescent, to give her young bosom alarm,

98 On the child she had fix'd with a soft silken cord;

99 To persuade the gay nymph, by this magical charm,

100 That none but a Mussulman must be her lord.

101 Hermossan a Persian, more noble and true,

102 As to woman she rose, put those fancies to flight;103 But Ayesha, who watch'd with a mischievous view,

104 Soon the ruby surveyed, and survey'd it with spite.

[Page 193 ]

105 She saw, 'twas a talisman fashioned by love,

106 Which she hoped to destroy by a daring device;

107 And, purloining the ring, as it lay in a glove,

108 With a diamond replaced it, far richer in price.

109 With her prize she escaped, from her visit uncheck'd;

110 Soon a change so unwish'd, was to Azima known,111 She detested the diamond, with which she was deckt,

112 Sent back the new gem, and demanded her own.

113 See Ayesha's bold son now with arrogance plead,

114 To obtain for his parent the pardon of love!115 The damsel, indignant, abhors the base deed,

116 Still demanding her ruby, all diamonds above.

[Page 194 ]

117 The crafty Ayesha her son would persuade,

118 That Azima's anger in time must decay;119 She knew not the truth of that resolute maid,

120 And she vainly hoped much from an artful delay.

121 Yet her credulous spirit the talisman pains,

122 Which she anxiously hides, with intent to destroy;

123 While she to prepare a rich recompence feigns,

124 For those, who may find this unfortunate toy.

125 Fair Azima suffers from sorrow and rage,


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126 But what can her rage or her sorrow achieve;

127 Hermossan is absent: her father's weak age

128 Only leaves her in fruitless affliction to grieve.

[Page 195 ]

129 Her bird in sweet sympathy seems to lament,

130 And to cheer her, in vain, his kind frolics he tries,

131 When she says, "O my ring!" on her wishes intent,

132 To seek it far off, from her window he flies.

133 In each flight, with new hope, she perceives her heart burn134 'Till that hope she so often has cherished in vain,

135 That she welcomes with tears his unjoyous return,

136 And her health wastes away with vexation and pain.

137 All her pain was encreased, when this billet she read,

138 "Thy Hermossan, my love, will be with thee at noon,

139 When thy faith shall dispell all his amorous dread,

140 And thy ruby's true radiance eclipse the false moon!"

[Page 196 ]

141 In the morn's early season this billet she caught,

142 In her bosom new hopes and new terrors now spring;

143 At her window she stood, and in turbulent thought,

144 "Once more my Anglama (she said) seek my ring!"

145 See, in tender obedience, Anglama depart146 And soon his swift pinions are out of her sight;

147 But terror and hope are still felt in her heart,

148 While her fancy pursues so momentous a flight.

149 Was it chance, or some angel, directed his sense,

150 On a tree of Ayesha's fair garden to perch?

151 No, with langour opprest, and in heat most intense,

152 A delicate water allur'd his research.

[Page 197 ]

153 At a wonderful depth this cool water reposed,

154 In a well through a rock, in past centuries sunk;

155 Ayesha's proud garden this wonder enclos'd,

156 Whence often the gentle Anglama had drunk.

157 A stranger to fear, down the circular cave158 For soothing refreshment he often had flown;

159 Now beside it he perched, and in silence, tho' brave,

160 For a matron he sees, who draws near to the stone.

161 'Tis Ayesha herself, who induced by a dream,

162 Came to bury the talisman deep in this well:

163 Down she cast the lov'd ring: by the morning's bright beam


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164 In the eyes of Anglama it flash'd as it fell.

[Page 198 ]

165 Alert as affection, more rapid than speech,

166 He darts unperceived, the dear treasure to seek;167 Ere the stone in it's fall the deep water can reach,

168 He o'ertakes; he has caught the lost gem in his beak!

169 Beware O Anglama! thy foes are abroad,

170 Thou yet may'st be cross'd in thy faithful intent;

171 If once thou art spied by the sharp eyes of fraud,172 Both her jewel, and thee, thy fair queen must lament.

173 As conscious of peril the provident bird

174 Takes refuge unseen in a cleft of the well;

175 Deposits his prize, and perceiving he's heard,

176 Flies back in the shelter of silence to dwell.

[Page 199 ]

177 There repose, thou best vassal to beauty endear'd!

178 While my song to thy mistress most anxiously turns,

179 To recount in thy absence what perils she fear'd;

180 Now she freezes in dread, now her terror she spurns.

181 By her own noble soul she resolves to subdue

182 The worst of all fears, that her fancy had crost;

183 The life of Hermossan in danger she knew,184 Supposing she told how his ruby was lost.

185 She knew with Ayesha's fierce son he would fight,186 Were the story reveal'd of the ring and the glove,

187 And she firmly exclaim'd, with heroic delight,

188 "No, his life I will save, if I forfeit his love."

[Page 200 ]

189 But O while new dangers Anglama detain,

190 How eager she pants for a sight of his plume;

191 At each sound she believes him returning again,

192 But he's destined to lurk in the cavern's deep gloom.

193 The morning elapses, and noon now is near,194 But time can't out-travel the lover's quick pace;

195 See Hermossan most true to his promise appear!196 With transport he flies to his fair one's embrace.

197 But O how his heart at her aspect recoils

198 When he sees how the rose has decay'd on her cheek!

199 "O God! is it thus I'm repaid for my toils,"

200 Was all, that affection had accents to speak.


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[Page 201 ]

201 Fond Azima trembling, yet brave in her heart,

202 Now exclaims, "swear to grant me one eager desire,203 "You must, or I die---nay my love! do not start,

204 "But swear by the sun's incorruptible fire!

205 "Our ruby is gone, and my life too must go,

206 "Unless to relieve me you instantly swear;

207 "Not to meditate vengeance, whatever you know,

208 "On the persons who thus have occasion'd my care"

209 Hermossan confused, with quick pity replied,

210 (Though Jealousy gave him her tremulous tones)

211 "Yes, I swear, if you say, but to soothe my fond pride,

212 "That no rival of mine my lost talisman owns."

[Page 202 ]

213 The maiden, whose soul was the spirit of truth,

214 Scarcely knew how herself to absolve or condemn;215 Since she really surmiz'd a proud amorous youth

216 Had obtain'd by his mother the magical gem.

217 The conflict distended her innocent breast,

218 Half lifeless she sinks on Hermossan's strong arm;

219 To his heart he in wonder her innocence prest,

220 Not free, jealous honor! from thy rash alarm.

221 In a soft rising breeze, yet she hardly has stirr'd,

222 But her faint eyes unclose to admit the fresh air,

223 And they now flash with joy in perceiving her bird,224 Who drops on her bosom, with "Never Despair."

[Page 203 ]

225 Thrice blessed Anglama! what language can speak

226 The joy not confined to thy patrons alone,

227 While thy queen thus receives from thy dutiful beak

228 The lesson engrav'd on the magical stone?

229 All terror, all sickness, all doubt, all distrust,

230 Fly away from thy friends in this rapturous hour,

231 And thee they esteem, to thy services just,232 A Phenix inshrin'd in Felicity's bower.

233 Fair reader! if wishing to fix on thy breast

234 The magic most sure every grace to endear,

235 As a gem on thy bosom let innocence rest,

236 Embellishing beauty, and banishing fear!

[Page 204 ]


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Hayley, William, 1745-1820: THE HORSE.

BALLAD THE SIXTEENTH. [from Ballads (1805)]

1 Virtue! thou hast spells divine,

2 Spells, that savage force controul!

3 What's the strongest charm of thine?

4 Courage in a mother's soul.

5 Haste my song, the scene proclaim,6 That may prove the maxim true!

7 Fair ones of maternal fame,

8 Hark! for honour speaks to you.

[Page 205 ]

9 Noblest of your noble band,10 Brave Marcella chanc'd to rove,

11 Leading childhood in her hand,12 Thro' a deep and lonely grove:

13 See her child! how gay! how light!

14 Twice two years her life has run,

15 Like a young Aurora bright,

16 Sporting near the rising sun.

17 Thro' a pass of sandy stone,18 Where autumnal foliage glow'd,

19 While the quivering sun-beams shone,

20 Lay their deep, and narrow road:

[Page 206 ]

21 Now, as thro' the dale they pac'd,22 Pleas'd with its umbrageous charm,

23 Lo! a fiery steed, in haste,

24 Prancing, spreads a quick alarm,

25 Fiercest of Arabia's race,

26 Force and beauty form'd his pride;

27 Vainly tutor'd for the chace,

28 Care he scorn'd, and rule defied.

29 Soon his rider had been flung,30 Tho' like Perseus, he adroit,

31 Oft to flying coursers clung,

32 Proud of every bold exploit!

[Page 207 ]


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33 Now, on foot, he tried in vain,

34 Or to soften, or subdue

35 This wild steed, whose leading rein,

36 Short and tight he firmly drew:

37 But the more the horseman strove

38 To restrain his fiery force,39 More he made the solemn grove

40 Echo to his frantic course.

41 Snorting loud, with savage leer,

42 All controuling powers to foil,

43 See him plunge! and see him rear!44 Mocking all his leader's toil!

[Page 208 ]

45 Fearless for himself alone,

46 He, of courage bravely mild,

47 Manly fear was frank to own48 For the mother, and her child:

49 For the beast, in barb'rous ire,

50 To the child and mother rush'd;

51 Both he deem'd must now expire,

52 By the vicious monster crush'd:

53 For his rage, with forceful art,

54 Still he fail'd to turn, or tame:

55 Fear and pity fill'd his heart,56 And convuls'd his manly frame,

[Page 209 ]

57 "Fly!" he cried, in accents weak,

58 As the rampant courser sped;

59 "Fly!" was all, that he could speak,60 Toss'd beneath the monster's head.

61 But without her child to fly,

62 Brave Marcella now disdained:

63 As her darling's guard to die,

64 This her only hope remained.

65 On the bank, where pine-trees mixt,66 Thick to form an arching wood,

67 At her back her child she fixt,68 And before it bravely stood:

[Page 210 ]

69 Firm in voice, in soul elate,

70 Then in solemn tone she cried,


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71 With her features fixt as fate---

72 "Tell your father how I died."

73 Noble parent! nature saw,

74 Virtue shining in thy soul,75 And with sudden, wond'rous awe

76 Struck the beast, that spurn'd controul:

77 For, as if thy fixed

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