Poems in Two Volumes, Volume 1

23. TO THE MEN OF KENT

October, 1803  Vanguard of Liberty, ye Men of Kent,  Ye Children of a Soil that doth advance  It's haughty brow against the coast of France,  Now is the time to prove your hardiment!  To France be words of invitation sent!  They from their Fields can see the countenance  Of your fierce war, may ken the glittering lance.  And hear you shouting forth your brave intent.  Left single, in bold parley, Ye, of yore,  Did from the Norman win a gallant wreath;  Confirm'd the charters that were yours before; —  No parleying now! In Britain is one breath;  We all are with you now from Shore to Shore: —  Ye Men of Kent, 'tis Victory or Death!24October, 1803  Six thousand Veterans practis'd in War's game,  Tried Men, at Killicranky were array'd  Against an equal Host that wore the Plaid,  Shepherds and Herdsmen. – Like a whirlwind came  The Highlanders, the slaughter spread like flame;  And Garry thundering down his mountain-road  Was stopp'd, and could not breathe beneath the load  Of the dead bodies. 'Twas a day of shame  For them whom precept and the pedantry  Of cold mechanic battle do enslave.  Oh! for a single hour of that Dundee  Who on that day the word of onset gave!  Like conquest would the Men of England see;  And her Foes find a like inglorious Grave.

25. ANTICIPATION

October, 1803  Shout, for a mighty Victory is won!  On British ground the Invaders are laid low;  The breath of Heaven has drifted them like snow,  And left them lying in the silent sun,  Never to rise again! – the work is done.  Come forth, ye Old Men, now in peaceful show  And greet your Sons! drums beat, and trumpets blow!  Make merry, Wives! ye little Children stun  Your Grandame's ears with pleasure of your noise!  Clap, Infants, clap your hands! Divine must be  That triumph, when the very worst, the pain,  And even the prospect of our Brethren slain,  Hath something in it which the heart enjoys: —  In glory will they sleep and endless sanctity.26November, 1803  Another year! – another deadly blow!  Another mighty Empire overthrown!  And we are left, or shall be left, alone;  The last that dares to struggle with the Foe.  'Tis well! from this day forward we shall know  That in ourselves our safety must be sought;  That by our own right hands it must be wrought,  That we must stand unpropp'd, or be laid low.  O Dastard whom such foretaste doth not chear!  We shall exult, if They who rule the land  Be Men who hold its many blessings dear,  Wise, upright, valiant; not a venal Band,  Who are to judge of danger which they fear,  And honour which they do not understand.

NOTES to the FIRST VOLUME

NOTES

NOTE I

PAGE I (9). —To the Daisy. This Poem, and two others to the same Flower, which the Reader will find in the second Volume, were written in the year 1802; which is mentioned, because in some of the ideas, though not in the manner in which those ideas are connected, and likewise even in some of the expressions, they bear a striking resemblance to a Poem (lately published) of Mr. Montgomery, entitled, a Field Flower. This being said, Mr. Montgomery will not think any apology due to him; I cannot however help addressing him in the words of the Father of English Poets.

      'Though it happe me to rehersin —  That ye han in your freshe song is saied,  Forberith me, and beth not ill apaied,  Sith that ye se I doe it in the honour  Of Love, and eke in service of the Flour.'NOTE II

PAGE 35 (43); line 13. —

      "… persevering to the last,      From well to better."  'For Knightes ever should be persevering  To seek honour without feintise or slouth  Fro wele to better in all manner thing.'                 CHAUCER: —The Floure and the Leafe.NOTE III

PAGE 37 (45). —The Horn of Egremont Castle. This Story is a Cumberland tradition; I have heard it also related of the Hall of Hutton John an ancient residence of the Huddlestones, in a sequestered Valley upon the River Dacor.

NOTE IV

PAGE 58 (64). —The Seven Sisters. The Story of this Poem is from the German of FREDERICA BRUN.

NOTE V

Page 63 (71); line 6. —

  "… that thy Boat  May rather seem  To brood on air," &c. &c.

See Carver's Description of his Situation upon one of the Lakes of America.

NOTE VI

PAGE 112 (120); line 8. – "Her tackling rich, and of apparel high." From a passage in Skelton, which I cannot here insert, not having the Book at hand.

NOTE VII

PAGE 150 (158); line 11. – "Oh! for a single hour of that Dundee."

See an anecdote related in Mr. Scott's Border Minstrelsy.

NOTE VIII

PAGE 152 (160); lines 13 and 14. —

  "Who are to judge of danger which they fear  And honour which they do not understand."

These two lines from Lord Brooke's Life of Sir Philip Sydney.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME