Up mounts ambition, like a seeled dove,- Higher and higher yet, it mounts above Royalty's self, that scorns (how blind!) the people's love. VI. A few years pass away, and then-farewell To wealth and rank, and all we hold most dear!- With saints or dæmons,-death approacheth near. Others' repose, and lose their own through vain turmoil! VII. Are not the heroes of romance as known As Cæsar, Attila, or Ammon's son? What an unreal thing is that renown That through else happy lands their lord might ruin spread! NOTES ON "SALERNO." P. 201, 1. 16. When we shall quit this pleasant land of dreams— Without entering into the fanciful and mystical ideas of Wordsworth, in regard to our present situation on earth, and a pre-existent state, I might be allowed to quote from the divine Analogy of Bishop Butler: -"Our present state may possibly be the consequence of somewhat past, of which we are wholly ignorant,-as it has a reference to somewhat to come, of which we know scarce any more than is necessary to practise." P. 202, 1. 9. When mad ambition used Religion as its shield. Pope Anaclet gave the investiture of the principality of Capua to Roger the First, king of Sicily, when Robert, its own prince, was in possession of it!-Giannone, Hist. Nap. lib. x. "which has "It is the liberty of Examination," says Bentham, corrected the errors of ignorance, and restores religion to its true object." Innocent the Third pretended that he had the right of legation over Sicily-he deposes Philip in favour of Otho, and insists upon his deposition. "Il faut," disait-il, "ou que le prince Philippe perde l'empire, on que je perde le souverain pontificat."—Histoire d'Allemagne, par Barre. P. 202, 1. 10. Ye haughty cardinals, &c. Though the vices of Richelieu and of Ximenes are in some degree sunk in the splendour of their abilities,-what shall we say of the cunning Mazarin and the turbulent De Retz? P. 202, 1. 18. On Nicolo's vast heights, or hermit in his cell? St. Nicolo is a very lofty mountain in the island of Ischia. On its heights are the lonely dwellings of a few monks.—If they think it necessary for their salvation that they should abstract themselves from the world, why should we quarrel with their voluntary retirement? They err, at least, on the right side. P. 203, 1. 15. As Cæsar, Attila, or Ammon's son ? Quoi donc à votre avis fut-ce un fou qu'Alexandre? Et traînant avec soi les horreurs de la guerre, De sa vaste folie emplir toute la terre. Heureux! si de son tems, pour cent bonnes raisons, Le Macédoine eût eu de petites-maisons, Et qu'un sage tuteur l'eût en cette demeure, Par avis de parens, enfermé de bonne heure."-BOILEAU. STANZAS ADDRESSED TO THE SEA. WRITTEN IN AUGUST, 1824. "The sea is like a silvery lake, And o'er its calm the vessel glides Gently, as if it feared to wake The slumber of the silent tides."-MOORE. I. Soft as a seraph's look, the calm blue sea The shore, and course each other down in haste! taste. |