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TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

FREDERICK, EARL OF CARLISLE,

KNIGHT OF THE GARTER, etc. etc.

THESE POEMS ARE INSCRIBED,

BY HIS OBLIGED WARD,

AND AFFECTIONATE KINSMAN,

THE AUTHOR.

HOURS OF IDLENESS.

ON LEAVING NEWSTEAD ABBEY.

Why dost thou build the hall? Son of the winged days! Thou lookest from thy tower to-day; yet a few years, and the blast of the desart comes; it howls in thy empty court. OSSIAN.

THRO'thy battlements, Newstead, the hollow winds whistle;
Thou, the hall of my Fathers, art gone to decay;
In thy once smiling garden, the hemlock and thistle
Have chok'd up therose, which late bloom'd in the way.

2.

Of the mail-cover'd Barons, who, proudly, to battle,
Led their vassals from Europe to Palestine's plain,
The escutcheon and shield, which with every blast rattle,
Are the only sad vestiges now that remain.

3.

No more doth old Robert, with harp-stringing numbers, Raise a flame in the breast, for the war-laurelled wreath; Near Askalon's towers, John of Horistan (1) slumbers; Unnerv'd is the hand of his minstrel, by death.

(1) Horistan Castle, in Derbyshire, an ancient seat of the Byron Family.

4.

Paul and Hubert too sleep in the valley of Cressy;
For the safety of Edward and England they fell;
My Fathers! the tears of your country redress ye;
How you fought, how you died, still her annals can tell.

5.

On Marston (1), with Rupert (2) 'gainst traitors contending, Four brothers enriched with their blood the bleak field; For the rights of a monarch, their country defending, Till death their attachment to royalty seal'd.

6.

Shades of heroes, farewell! your descendant departing From the seat of his ancestors bids you adieu! Abroad, or at home, your remembrance imparting New courage, he'll think upon glory and you.

7.

Though a tear dim his eye at this sad separation,
'Tis nature, not fear, that excites his regret ;
Far distant he goes, with the same emulation:
The fame of his Fathers he ne'er can forget.

8.

That fame, and that memory, still will he cherish,
He vows that he ne'er will disgrace your renown;
Like
you will he live, or like you will he perish;
When decay'd, may he mingle his dust with your Own.

1803. (1) The battle of Marston Moor, where the adherents of Charles I were defeated.

(2) Son of the Elector Palatine, and related to Charles I. He afterwards commanded the fleet, in the reign of Charles II.

EPITAPH ON A FRIEND.

Αςτηρ πριν μεν ελαμπεσ ενι ζωοισιν ἑωος.

LAERTIUS.

OH! Friend! for ever lov'd, for ever dear!

What fruitless tears have bath'd thy honour'd bier!
What sighs re-echo'd to thy parting breath,
While thou wast struggling in the pangs of death!
Could tears retard the tyrant in his course;
Could sighs avert his dart's relentless force;
Could youth and virtue claim a short delay,
Or beauty charm the spectre from his prey;
Thou still hadst liv'd to bless my aching sight,
Thy comrade's honour, and thy friend's delight.
If, yet, thy gentle spirit hover nigh

The spot where now thy mould'ring ashes lie,
Here wilt thou read, recorded on my heart,
A grief too deep to trust the sculptor's art.
No marble marks thy couch of lowly sleep,
But living statues there are seen to weep;
Affliction's semblance bends not o'er thy tomb,
Affliction's self deplores thy youthful doom.
What though thy sire lament his failing line,
A father's sorrows cannot equal mine!

Though none, like thee, his dying hour will cheer,
Yet, other offspring sooth his anguish here:
But, who with me shall hold thy former place?
Thine image, what new friendship can efface?
Ah, none! a father's tears will cease to flow,
Time will assuage an infant brother's woe;
To all, save one, is consolation known,
While solitary Friendship sighs alone.

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