For no such sight had England's queen Forsaken her retreat, Where George, recover'd, made a scene Sweet always, doubly sweet. Yet glad she came that night to prove, A witness undescried, How much the object of her love Was loved by all beside. Darkness the skies had mantled o'er Darkness, O Queen! ne'er called before On borrow'd wheels away she flies, Emblems of health and heavenly aid, Unlike the enigmatic line, So difficult to spell, Which shook Belshazzar at his wine The night his city fell. Soon watery grew her eyes and dim, None else, except in prayer for him, It was a scene in every part But other magic there, she knew, To raise such wonders in her view, That cordial thought her spirit cheer'd, Convey'd her calm along. So, ancient poets say, serene With more than astronomic eyes Yet let the glories of a night Like that, once seen, suffice, Heaven grant us no such future sight, THE COCK-FIGHTER'S GARLAND.* Nor speak the school from which he drew Nor place where he was born. *Written on reading the following, in the obituary of the Gentleman's Magazine for April 1789:-" At Tottenham, John Ardesoif, Esq., a young man of large fortune, and, in the splendour of his carriages and horses, rivalled by few country gentlemen. His table was that of hospitality, where, it may be said, he sacrficed too much to conviviality; but, if he had his foibles, he had his merits also, that far outweighed them. Mr. A. was very fond of cock-fighting, and had a favourite cock, upon which he That such a man once was, may seem For proof to man, what man may prove, This man (for since the howling wild Gentle he was, if gentle birth Could make him such, and he had worth, In social talk and ready jest, Methinks I see him powder'd red, Can such be cruel? Such can be A tyrant entertain'd had won many profitable matches. The last bet he laid upon this cock he lost; which so enraged him, that he had the bird tied to a spit and roasted alive before a large fire. The screams of the miserable animal were so affecting, that some gentlemen who were present attempted to interfere, which so enraged Mr. A., that he seized a poker, and with the most furious vehemence declared, that he would kill the first person who interposed; but in the midst of his passionate observations, he fell down dead upon the spot. Such, we are assured, were the circumstances which attended the death of this great pillar of humanity." With barbarous sports, whose fell delight Was to encourage mortal fight "Twixt birds to battle train'd. One feather'd champion he possess'd, It chanced at last, when, on a day, He seized him fast, and from the pit The horrid sequel asks a veil ; All, suppliant, beg a milder fate But vengeance hung not far remote, "Tis not for us, with rash surmise. May 1789. "Tis hard to read amiss. TO WARREN HASTINGS, ESQ. BY AN OLD SCHOOLFELLOW OF HIS AT WESTMINSTER. HASTINGS! I knew thee young, and of a mind, TO MRS THROCKMORTON, ON HER BEAUTIFUL TRANSCRIPT OF HORACE'S ODE, "AD LIBRUM SUUM. MARIA, Could Horace have guess'd The honour which you have bestow'd; |