Then of the books, to catch thy drowsy glance Compiled, what bard the catalogue may quote! Plays, poems, novels, never read but once ;→

But not of such the tale fair Edgeworth wrote, That bears thy name, and is thine antidote ;

And not of such the strain my Thomson sung, Delicious dreams inspiring by his note,

What time to Indolence his harp he strung;Oh! might my lay be rank'd that happier list among!

Each hath his refuge whom thy cares assail.

For me, I love my study-fire to trim,

And con right vacantly some idle tale,

Displaying on the couch each listless limb,

Till on the drowsy page the lights grow dim,

And doubtful slumber half supplies the theme While antique shapes of knight and giant grim,

Damsel and dwarf, in long procession gleam,

;

And the Romancer's tale becomes the Reader's dream.

13

"Tis thus my malady I well may bear,

Albeit outstretch'd, like Pope's own Paridel, Upon the rack of a too-easy chair;

And find, to cheat the time, a powerful spell In old romaunts of errantry that tell,

Or later legends of the Fairy-folk,

Or oriental tale of Afrite fell,

Of Genii, Talisman, and broad-wing'd Roc, Though taste may blush and frown, and sober reason mock.

Oft at such season, too, will rhymes unsought
Arrange themselves in some romantic lay;
The which, as things unfitting graver thought,
Are burnt or blotted on some wiser day.—
These few survive-and, proudly let me say,
Court not the critic's smile, nor dread his frown;

They well may serve to while an hour away,

Nor does the volume ask for more renown,

Than Ennui's yawning smile, what time she drops it

down.

HAROLD THE DAUNTLESS.

CANTO FIRST.

HAROLD THE DAUNTLESS.

CANTO FIRST.

I.

LIST to the valorous deeds that were done

By Harold the Dauntless, Count Witikind's son!

Count Witikind came of a regal strain,

And roved with his Norsemen the land and the main.

Woe to the realms which he coasted! for there

Was shedding of blood, and rending of hair,

Rape of maiden, and slaughter of priest,
Gathering of ravens and wolves to the feast:
When he hoisted his standard black,

Before him was battle, behind him wrack,