FAMINE.

A baby beat its dying mother:

I had starv'd the one and was starving the other!

Who bade you do't?

Both.

FAMINE.

The same! the same!

Letters four do form his name.

He let me loose, and cried, Halloo!

To him alone the praise is due.

FIRE.

Sisters! I from Ireland came !
Hedge and corn-fields all on flame,
I triumph'd o'er the setting Sun!
And all the while the work was done,
On as I strode with my huge strides,

I flung back my head and I held my sides,
It was so rare a piece of fun

To see the swelter'd cattle run

With uncouth gallop through the night,

Scared by the red and noisy light! .

By the the light of his own blazing cot
Was many a naked Rebel shot:

The house-stream met the flame and hiss'd,

While crash! fell in the roof, I wist,

On some of those old bed-rid nurses,

That deal in discontent and curses.

Who bade you do't?

Both.

FIRE.

The same the same!

Letters four do form his name.

He let me loose, and cried, Halloo !

To him alone the praise is due.

All.

He let us loose, and cried, Halloo!

How shall we yield him honour due?

FAMINE.

Wisdom comes with lack of food.

I'll gnaw, I'll gnaw the multitude,

Till the cup of rage o'erbrim :
They shall seize him and his brood---

SLAUGHTER.

They shall tear him limb from limb!

FIRE.

O thankless beldames and untrue!
And is this all that you can do
For him, who did so much for you?
Ninety months he, by my troth!
Hath richly cater'd for you both;
And in an hour would you repay

An eight years' work?-Away! away!
I alone am faithful! I

Cling to him everlastingly.

1796.

LOVE-POEMS.

.

QUAS HUMILIS TENERO STYLUS OLIM EFFUDIT IN EVO,

PERLEGIS HIC LACRYMAS, ET QUOD PHARETRATUS ACUTA

ILLE PUER PUERO FECIT MIHI CUSPIDE VULNUS.

OMNIA PAULATIM CONSUMIT LONGIOR ETAS,

VIVENDOQUE SIMUL MORIMUR, RAPIMURQUE MANENDO.

IPSE MIHI COLLATUS ENIM NON ILLE VIDEBOR:

FRONS ALIA EST, MORESQUE ALII, NOVA MENTIS IMAGO,