POEMS

WRITTEN IN EARLY YOUTH.

ON LEAVING HARROW SCHOOL.

O dulces comitum valete cœtus,
Longè quos simul a domo profectos
Diversè variæ viæ reportant.

CATULLUS.

As evening shades in summer calm the light,
Thus thoughts of future temper wild delight.
Through Hope's delusive glass bright scenes we view,
By many fancied-realised to few.

All are pre-doom'd to taste the cup

of woe,

To war with griefs which here they never know.
In youth's gay spring, the soul, devoid of care,
Forebodes no cloud-life seems in prospect fair;
Soon withers on the cheek the rose of health;
Soon is consumed anticipated wealth.

When sickness wastes the frame, disgrace the heart,
Untimely death alone can ease impart.
How relative is happiness!—e'en now,
When with unusual warmth my spirits glow,
Some fondly dream o'er days of boyhood past,
And fain would wish them, if renew'd, to last;

Till memory wakes in age a transient joy,
The world's worn pilgrim seems again a boy.

Ye dear companions of my early years,
Oh may these prove but visionary fears!
Yet should the world, with meretricious wiles,
Contract the heart, deform fair Friendship's smiles—
Should lawless passions frighten Reason down,
Then seat themselves alternate on her throne;
When each might lord it with unruly power,
The petty tyrant of the passing hour-
Say, which were best, Orbilius * to obey,
Or thus to wild affections fall a prey!
To cheer reflection, Science shines afar,
Her will I follow as my polar star!
She will conduct me to the blest retreats
Of classic taste-the Muse's sacred seats.

Still shall this hill, with Wisdom's nurslings blest,
Wake many a fond remembrance in my breast.
Here, oft, with unavailing zeal, I sought

To body forth in verse the fleeting thought,

That charm'd the fancy while it mock'd the mind,
Then fled-too volatile to be confined.

Here throbb'd my anxious breast 'twixt hope and fear,
As peal'd the warning bell upon my ear:

* Orbilius is the name of the schoolmaster of Horace. Here poetic licence makes it synonymous with that of any schoolmaster.