Nor durst light Paridel advance, Bold as he was, a looser glance. She charm'd, at once, and tamed the heart, Incomparable Britomarte ! So thou, fair City! disarray'd Of battled wall, and rampart's aid, As stately seem'st, but lovelier far: Than in that panoply of war, Nor deem that from thy fenceless throne Strength and security are flown; Still, as of yore, Queen of the North! Still canst thou send thy children forth. Ne'er readier at alarm-bell's call Thy burghers rose to man thy wall, For fosse and turret proud to stand, Their breasts the bulwarks of the land. Thy thousands, train'd to martial toil, Full red would stain their native soil, Ere from thy mural crown there fell And if it come,-as come it may, Dun-Edin! that eventful day, Renown'd for hospitable deed, That virtue much with heaven may plead, That claim may wrestle blessings down Refuge of injured royalty; Since first, when conquering York arose, To Henry meek she gave repose, Till late, with wonder, grief, and awe, Great Bourbon's reliques, sad she saw Truce to these thoughts!-for, as they rise, How gladly I avert mine eyes, Bodings, or true or false, to change, For Fiction's fair romantic range, Or for Tradition's dubious light, That hovers 'twixt the day and night : Dazzling alternately and dim, Her wavering lamp I'd rather trim, Knights, squires, and lovely dames to see, Creation of my fantasy, Than gaze abroad on reeky fen, And make of mists invading men. Who loves not more the night of June The moonlight than the fog of frost? But who shall teach my harp to gain A sound of the romantic strain, Whose Anglo-Norman tones whilere Could win the Royal Henry's ear, Famed Beauclerc call'd, for that he loved The minstrel, and his lay approved? Who shall these lingering notes redeem, Decaying on Oblivion's stream; Such notes as from the Breton tongue O! born, Time's ravage to repair, And make the dying Muse thy care; Who, when his scythe her hoary foe The weapon from his hand could wring, And break his glass, and shear his wing. And bid, reviving in his strain, The gentle poet live again : Thou, who canst give to lightest lay An unpedantic moral gay, Nor less the dullest theme bid flit On wings of unexpected wit; In letters, as in life approved, Example honour'd, and beloved, Dear ELLIS! to the bard impart A lesson of thy magic art, To win at once the head and heart,At once to charm, instruct, and mend, My guide, my pattern, and my friend! Such minstrel lesson to bestow Be long thy pleasing task,-but, O! No more by thy example teach What few can practise, all can preach; Lingering disease, and painful cure, And boast affliction's pangs subdued By mild and manly fortitude. Enough, the lesson has been given; Forbid the repetition, Heaven! Come listen, then! for thou hast known And loved the Minstrel's varying tone, Who, like his Border sires of old, Waked a wild measure rude and bold, |