He would have torn the page of war
From England's blazoning book,
And bent the gashing scimitar

To plenty's pruning-hook;

He would have beat the spear and shaft
To plough-shares, and the banner-staff
Turn'd to the pastoral crook,-

The groan of millions, to the song
Of peasants their sweet vales among.

Hence Truth shall circle his renown,

With pure and blameless wreath,
Whilst rusts the victor's iron crown,
The sabre in its sheath.

His weapon-was the peaceful plough,
His pride-ambition-but to throw
Bloom o'er the barren heath;
Where view we now in later years,
The ripening harvest's golden ears,

He would-but what he would have been, Can hope, can love avow?

Death dropped his curtain on the scene, And withered every vow.

Where are the vanish'd Great? declare! The Medici, the Decii, where,

Where generous Francis now ?

Immortal suns, in memory's sky-
They are not dead, they could not die!

They came, like angels of a night,
To disappear by day;

As radiant was their earthward flight,
As swift to pass away.

Too bright, alas! to linger here,
They fled-we should not shed one tear

For beings blest as they;

But evermore exult to find

Their living image left behind.

Though gone in glory down the sky
Our Cynosures decline;
If other watch-lights burn on high,
'Tis folly to repine.-

Look up! in freedom's hemisphere
The star of RUSSELL lingers near,
And other Pleiads shine,

Devoted in the stormiest night

To shed round us their guiding light.

And, circled thus with names of light,
WOBURN! I bid thee hail,

A beauty rests on every height,
A charm in every vale :

Peopled with bright remembrances,
Green, green on high thy pines arise
Though wintry storms assail,

And whisper to the waters near,
The dirge which sorrow loves to hear.

And of the dead will fancy deem
Those shades are vocal still,

Their voice upon the murmuring stream,
Their footstep on the hill!

This solace let not reason chide,
That thus, the Great, the Deified
Are reproduc'd at will;

For sweet, though sad, is the relief
Which brings an anodyne to grief.

WOBURN, 1818.

N

CONCISE ACCOUNT

OF THE

VICINITY OF WOBURN,

BIRCHMORE-HOUSE

Stands in the Parish of Woburn, about one mile from the town. This was originally the seat of the Stauntons, one of whom is said to have been standard-bearer to Henry VII. The parish church of Woburn, as before stated, was here. In a survey made of the parish in 1661, by Sir Jonas More, a garden, about two hundred yards from the house, is called the churchyard. The estate afterwards passed into the Pickering family, and was purchased of Sir Edward Pickering by the Duke of Bedford, in 1747. The mansion is now modernized, and converted into a very handsome farm-house, which is at present inhabited by Mr. Runciman, who rents the estate under the Duke of Bedford, and whose agricultural skill is generally esteemed.

ASPLEY-GUISE,

Anciently Gowiz, is situated two miles north of Woburn. This was formerly a town, having a market on Fridays, granted in 1267, with a fair on St. Botolph's day, and now it is a delightful and populous village, inhabited by many genteel families. The manor formerly belonged to the Beauchamps, as part of the barony of Bedford. It afterwards formed part of the dower of Margaret, daughter of the king of Scotland, and wife of the earl of Kent, grand justiciary of England; subsequently it was in the possession of the Guises, from whom the village derives its name; it now belongs to Sadlier Moody, Esq. of London. The church, dedicated to St. Botolph, consists of a nave, north aisle, a chancel, and a clumsy ill-constructed tower, containing four bells and a clock. There are several ancient monuments. A large classical academy has been established in the village for upwards of a century.

HUSBORN CRAWLEY

Is one mile and a half distant from Woburn. This village is large and particularly neat; the manor anciently be longed to the earls of Albemarle; it is now in the possession of the Duke of Bedford. In the time of Edward III. Husborn and Crawley, or Crauele, were distinct places, the former is supposed to have been situated near the church. The parish church, dedicated to St. James