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XVII.

PICTURE OF DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN, at

HAMILTON PALACE.

AMID a fertile region green with wood

And fresh with rivers, well doth it become
The Ducal Owner, in his Palace-home

To naturalise this tawny Lion brood;

Children of Art, that claim strange brotherhood, Couched in their Den, with those that roam at large

Over the burning wilderness, and charge

The wind with terror while they roar for food.
But these are satiate, and a stillness drear
Calls into life a more enduring fear;

Yet is the Prophet calm, nor would the cave
Daunt him if his Companions, now be-drowsed
Yawning and listless, were by hunger roused:
Man placed him here, and God, he knows, can save.

XVIII.

THE AVON (a feeder of the Annan).

AVON

a precious, an immortal name!

Yet is it one that other Rivulets bear

Like this unheard-of, and their channels wear

Like this contented, though unknown to Fame:
For
great and sacred is the modest claim

Of streams to Nature's love, where'er they flow;
And ne'er did genius slight them, as they go,
Tree, flower, and green herb, feeding without blame.
But Praise can waste her voice on work of tears,
Anguish, and death: full oft where innocent blood
Has mixed its current with the limpid flood,
Her heaven-offending trophies Glory rears;
Never for like distinction may the good

Shrink from thy name, pure Rill, with unpleased

ears!

XIX.

SUGGESTED BY A VIEW FROM AN EMINENCE IN

INGLEWOOD FOREST.

THE forest huge of ancient Caledon
Is but a name, nor more is Inglewood,

That swept from hill to hill, from flood to flood:
On her last thorn the nightly Moon has shone;
Yet still, though unappropriate Wild be none,
Fair parks spread wide where Adam Bell might deign
With Clym o' the Clough, were they alive again,
To kill for merry feast their venison.

Nor wants the holy Abbot's gliding Shade
His Church with monumental wreck bestrown;
The feudal Warrior-chief, a Ghost unlaid,
Hath still his Castle, though a Skeleton,
That he may watch by night, and lessons con
Of Power that perishes, and Rights that fade.

XX.

HART'S-HORN TREE, NEAR PENRITH.

HERE stood an Oak, that long had borne affixed
To his huge trunk, or, with more subtle art,
Among its withering topmost branches mixed,
The palmy antlers of a hunted Hart,

Whom the dog Hercules pursued

his part

Each desperately sustaining, till at last

Both sank and died, the life-veins of the chased
And chaser bursting here with one dire smart.
Mutual the Victory, mutual the Defeat!
High was the trophy hung with pitiless pride;
Say, rather, with that generous sympathy

That wants not, even in rudest breasts, a seat;
And, for this feeling's sake, let no one chide
Verse that would guard thy memory, Hart's-horn

Tree!*

* See Note, p. 43.

XXI.

COUNTESS'S PILLAR.

[On the roadside between Penrith and Appleby, there stands a pillar with the following inscription

:

، This pillar was erected, in the year 1656, by Anne Countess Dowager of Pembroke, &c. for a memorial of her last parting with her pious mother, Margaret Countess Dowager of Cumberland, on the 2d of April, 1616; in memory whereof she hath left an annuity of 4l. to be distributed to the poor of the parish of Brougham, every 2d day of April for ever, upon the stone table placed hard by. Laus Deo!"]

WHILE the Poor gather round, till the end of time
May this bright flower of Charity display
Its bloom, unfolding at the appointed day;

Flower than the loveliest of the vernal prime

Lovelier - transplanted from heaven's purest clime ! Charity never faileth:" on that creed,

66

More than on written testament or deed,
The pious Lady built with hope sublime.
Alms on this stone to be dealt out, for ever!
"Laus Deo." Many a Stranger passing by
Has with that parting mixed a filial sigh,
Blest its humane Memorial's fond endeavour;
And, fastening on those lines an eye tear-glazed,
Has ended, though no Clerk, with "God be
praised!"

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