When he fell and wish'd to fall:

And her name was in his latest sigh, When Roland, the flower of chivalry, Expired at Roncevall.

THE SPECTRE BOAT.

A BALLAD.

LIGHT rued false Ferdinand, to leave a lovely maid

forlorn,

Who broke her heart and died to hide her blushing

cheek from scorn.

One night he dreamt he woo'd her in their wonted

bower of love,

Where the flowers sprang thick around them, and the

birds sang sweet above.

But the scene was swiftly changed into a churchyard's dismal view,

And her lips grew black beneath his kiss, from love's delicious hue.

What more he dreamt, he told to none; but, shuddering, pale, and dumb,

Look'd out upon the waves, like one that knew his hour was come.

'Twas now the dead watch of the night-the helm was lash'd a-lee,

And the ship rode where Mount Ætna lights the deep

Levantine sea;

When beneath its glare a boat came, row'd by a woman in her shroud,

Who, with eyes that made our blood run cold, stood and spoke aloud :—

up

"Come, Traitor, down, for whom my ghost still wan

ders unforgiven!

Come down, false Ferdinand, for whom I broke my peace with heaven!”.

It was vain to hold the victim, for he plunged to meet

her call,

Like the bird that shrieks and flutters in the gazing serpent's thrall.

You may guess the boldest mariner shrunk daunted

from the sight,

For the spectre and her winding-sheet shone blue. with hideous light;

Like a fiery wheel the boat spun with the waving of

her hand,

And round they went, and down they went, as the

cock crew from the land.

VALEDICTORY STANZAS

TO J. P. KEMBLE, Esq.

COMPOSED FOR A PUBLIC MEETING, HELD JUNE 1817.

PRIDE of the British stage,

A long and last adieu !

Whose image brought th' heroic age

Revived to Fancy's view.

Like fields refresh'd with dewy light

When the sun smiles his last,

Thy parting presence makes more bright

Our

memory of the past;