XVI.

That is, with men with women he was what
They pleased to make or take him for; and
Imagination's quite enough for that: [their
So that the outline's tolerably fair,
They fill the canvas up-and verbum sat.
If once their phantasies be brought to bear
Upon an object, whether sad or playful,
They can transfigure brighter than a Raphael.

XVII.

Adeline, no deep judge of character,

Was apt to add a colouring from her own: 'Tis thus the good will amiably err,

And eke the wise, as has been often shown. Experience is the chief philosopher,

But saddest when his science is well known: And persecuted sages teach the schools Their folly in forgetting there are fools.

XVIII.

Was it not so, great Locke? and greater Bacon? Great Socrates? And Thou, Diviner still, Whose lot it is by man to be mistaken,

And Thy pure creed made sanction of all ill? Redeeming worlds to be by bigots shaken,

How was Thy toil rewarded? We might fill Volumes with similar sad illustrations,

But leave them to the conscience of the nations.

XIX.

I perch upon an humbler promontory,
Amidst life's infinite variety:

With no great care for what is nicknamed glory,
But speculating as I cast mine eye

On what may suit, or may not suit, my story,
And never straining hard to versify,
I rattle on exactly as I'd talk
With anybody in a ride or walk.

XX.

I don't know that there may be much ability
Shown in this sort of desultory rhyme;
But there's a conversational facility,

Which may round off an hour upon a time.
Of this I'm sure, at least there's no servility
In mine irregularity of chime,
Which rings what's uppermost of new or hoary,
Just as I feel the Improvisatore.

XXI.

'Omnia vult belle Matho dicere-dic aliquando Et bene, die neutrum, dic aliquando male.' †

As it is necessary in these times to avoid ambiguity, I say that I mean by Diviner still,' Christ. If ever God was man,or man God,-He was both. I never arraigned His creed, but the use, or abuse, made of it. Mr Canning one day quoted Christianity to sanction negro slavery, and Mr Wilberforce had little to say in reply. And was Christ crucified that black men might be scourged? If so, He had better been born a Mulatto, to give both colours an equal chance of freedom, or at least salvation.

+ [Thon finely would'st say all?
Say something well:
Say something ill if thou
Wouldst bear the bell.
ELPHINSTON.]

A line, and leave posterity undone,

Unless a marriage was applied to mend The prospect and their morals; and, besides, They have at hand a blooming glut of brides.

XXXIV.

From these they will be careful to select,
For this an heiress, and for that a beauty:
For one, a songstress who hath no defect;

For t'other, one who promises much duty:
For this, a lady no one can reject, [booty;
Whose sole accomplishments were quite a
A second for her excellent connections;
A third because there can be no objections.

XXXV.

When Rapp the Harmonist embargoed marriage In his harmonious settlement (which flourishes

Strangely enough as yet without miscarriage, Because it breeds no more mouths than it nourishes,

Without those sad expenses which disparage What Nature naturally most encourages), Why call'd he Harmony' a state sans wedlock? Now here I've got the preacher at a dead lock.

XXXVI.

Because he either meant to sneer at harmony Or marriage, by divorcing them thus oddly;

many

Or not, 'tis said his sect is rich and godly, Pious and pure, beyond what I can term any Of ours, although they propagate more broadly.

My objection's to his title, not his ritual,
Although I wonder how it grew habitual.

XXXVII.

But Rapp is the reverse of zealous matrons, Who favour, malgré Malthus, generationProfessors of that genial art, and patrons

Of all the modest part of propagation; Which, after all, at such a desperate rate runs, That half its produce tends to emigration, That sad result of passions and potatoesTwo woods which pose our economic Catos.

XXXVIII.

Had Adeline read Malthus? I can't tell :

I wish she had; his book's the eleventh commandment,

Which says, 'Thou shalt not marry, 'unless well; This he (as far as I can understand) meant.

That usual paragon, an only daughter Who seem'd the cream of equanimity,

sea,

Till skimm'd-and then there was some milk and water,

With a slight shade of blue, too, it might be,

Beneath the surface; but what did it matter? Love's riotous, but marriage should have quiet, And, being consumptive, live on a milk diet.

XLII.

And then there was the Miss Audacia Shoestring,
A dashing demoiselle of good estate,
Whose heart was fix'd upon a star or blue string;
But whether English dukes grew rare of late,
Or that she had not harp'd upon the true string
By which such sirens can attract our great,
She took up with some foreign younger brother,
A Russ or Turk-the one's as good as t'other.

XLIII.

And then there was-but why should I go on, Unless the ladies should go off?—there was Indeed a certain fair and fairy one,

Of the best class, and better than her classAurora Raby, a young star who shone

O'er life, too sweet an image for such glass; A lovely being, scarcely form'd or moulded, A rose with all its sweetest leaves yet folded;

XLIV.

Rich, noble, but an orphan; left an only
Child to the care of guardians good and kind;
But still her aspect had an air so lonely!
Blood is not water; and where shall we find
Feelings of youth like those which overthrown
By death, when we are left, alas! behind, [lie
To feel in friendless palaces, a home
Is wanting, and our best ties in the tomb?

XLV.

Early in years, and yet more infantine

In figure, she had something of sublime In eyes, which sadly shone, as seraphs' shine: All youth-but with an aspect beyond time: Radiant and grave-as pitying man's decline;

Mournful-but mournful of another's crime; She look'd as if she sat by Eden's door,

And wherefore not? A reasonable reason,
If good, is none the worse for repetition;
If bad, the best way's certainly to tease on,
And amplify: you lose much by concision!
Whereas insisting in or out of season

Convinces all men, even a politician;
Or-what is just the same-it wearies out: