last assertion, as there are shell-fish to be found in the lake. Lord Byron has a similar allusion to the fruits of the Dead Sea, in that wonderful display of genius, his Third Canto of Childe Harold,-magnificent beyond any thing, perhaps, that even he has ever written. Note 109, page 39, col. 1. While lakes, that shone in mockery nigh. The Suhrab, or Water of the desert, is said to be caused by the rarefaction of the atmosphere from extreme heat; and, which augments the delusion, it is most frequent in hollows, where water might be ex pected to lodge. I have seen bushes and trees reflected in it, with as much accuracy as though it had been the face of a clear and still lake..-POTTINGER. As to the unbelievers, their works are like a vapour in a plain, which the thirsty traveller thinketh to be water, until when he cometh thereto he findeth it to be nothing.-Koran, chap. 24. Note 110, page 39, col. 1. A flower that the Bidmusk has just passed over. A wind which prevails in February, called Bidmusk, from a small and odoriferous flower of that name.». The wind which blows these flowers commonly lasts till the end of the month.-LE BRUYN. Note 111, page 39, col. 1. Where the sea-gipseys, who live for ever on the water. The Biajùs are of two races; the one is settled on Borneo, and are a rude but warlike and industrious nation, who reckon themselves the original possessors of the island of Borneo. The other is a species of seagipseys, or itinerant fishermen, who live in small covered boats, and enjoy a perpetual summer on the eastern ocean, shifting to leeward from island to island, with the variations of the monsoon. In some of their customs this singular race resemble the natives of the Maldivia Islands. The Maldivians annually launch a small bark, loaded with perfumes, gums, flowers, and odoriferous wood, and turn it adrift at the mercy of winds and waves, as an offering to the Spirit of the Winds; and sometimes similar offerings are made to the spirit whom they term the King of the Sea. In like manner the Biajùs perform their offering to the god of evil, launching a small bark, loaded with all the sins and misfortunes of the nation, which are imagined to fall on the unhappy crew that may be so unlucky as first to meet with it.-Dr LEYDEN on the Languages and Literature of the Indo-Chinese Nations. Note 114, page 40, col. I Her ruby rosary. Le Tespih, qui est un chapelet composé de quatrevingt-dix-neuf petites boules d'agathe, de jaspe, d'ambre, de corail, ou d'autre matière précieuse. J'en ai vu un superbe au Seigneur Jerpos; il était de belles et grosses perles parfaites et égales, estimé trente mille piastres. » -TODERINI. Note 115, page 43, col. 1. A silk dyed with the blossoms of the sorrowful tree, Nilica. Blossoms of the sorrowful Nyctanthes give a durable colour to silk.-Remarks on the Husbandry of this flower.-SIR W. JONES. The Persians call it Gul.— Nilica is one of the Indian names of Bengal, p. 200, CARRERI. Note 116, page 45, col. 2. When pitying Heaven to roses turn'd The death-flames that beneath him burn'd! Of their other Prophet, Zoroaster, there is a story told in DION PRUSSEUS, Orat. 36, that the love of wisdom and virtue leading him to a solitary life upon a mountain, he found it one day all in a flame, shining with celestial fire, out of which he came without any harm, and instituted certain sacrifices to God, who, he declared, then appeared to him.-See PATRICK on Exodus, iii, 2. Note 121, page 51, col. 1. As the Prophet said of Damascus, it was too delicious.. As you enter at that Bazar without the gate of Damascus, you see the Green Mosque, so called because it hath a steeple faced with green glazed bricks, which render it very resplendent; it is covered at top with a pavilion of the same stuff. The Turks say this mosque was made in that place, because Mahomet being come so far, would not enter the town, saying it was too delicious." -THEVENOT. This reminds one of the following pretty passage in Isaac Walton:- When I sat last on this primrose bank, and looked down these meadows, I thought of them as Charles the Emperor did of the city of Florence, that they were too pleasant to be looked on, but only on holidays.' ■ Note 122, page 51, col. 1. Would remind the Princess of that difference, etc. Haroun Al Raschid, cinquième Khalife des Abassides, s'étant un jour brouillé avec une de ses maîtresses nommé Maridah, qu'il aimait cependant jusqu'à l'excès, et cette mésintelligence ayant déjà duré quelque temps, commença à s'ennuyer. Giafar Barmaki, son favori, que s'en apercut, commanda à Abbas ben Ahnaf, excellent poëte de ce temps-là, de composer quelques vers sur le sujet de cette brouilleric. Ce poëte executa l'ordre de Giafar, qui fit chanter ces vers par Moussali, en présence du Khalife, et ce Prince fut tellement touché de la tendresse des vers du poëte et de la douceur de la voix du musicien, qu'il alla aussitôt trouver Maridah, et fit sa paix avec elle.-D'HERBELOT. which gilds the teeth and gives a yellow colour to the flesh of the sheep that eat it. Even the oil of this plan must be of a golden colour. It is called Haschischa ed dab. Father JEROM DANDINI, however, asserts, that the teeth of the goats at Mount Libanus are of a silver colour; and adds, this confirms me in that which observed in Candia; to wit, that the animals that live on Mount Ida eat a certain herb, which renders their teeth of a golden colour; which, according to my judg ment, cannot otherwise proceed than from the mines which are under ground.-DANDINI, Voyage to Mount Libanus. Note 127, page 55, col. 2. T is I that mingle in one sweet measure The past, the present, and future of pleasure. Whenever our pleasure arises from a succession of sounds, it is a perception of complicated nature. and an idea or remembrance of the foregoing, while made up of a sensation of the present sound or note, their mixture and concurrence produce such a mysterious delight, as neither could have produced alone. And it is often heightened by an anticipation of the succeeding notes. Thus Sense, Memory, and Imagination, are conjunctively employed. —GERRARD Taste. This is exactly the Epicurean theory of Pleasure, as explained by Cicero:- Quocirca corpus gaudere tampræsentem percipere pariter cum corpore et prospicere diu, dum præsentem sentiret voluptatem; animum et venientem, nec præteritam præterfluere sinere. » MADAME DE STAEL accounts, upon the same principle, for the gratification we derive from rhyme:- elle est l'image de l'espérance et du souvenir. Un son nous fait désirer celui qui doit lui répondre, et quand le socond retentit, il nous rappelle celui qui vient de nous échapper. Note 128, page 55, col. 2. 'Tis dawn, at least that earlier dawn, The Persians have two mornings, the Soobhi Kazim and the Soobhi Sadig, the false and the real day-break They account for this phenomenon in a most whimsical manner. They say, that as the sun rises from behind the Kobi Qaf (Mount Caucasus), it passes a hole perfothrough it, it is the cause of the Soobhi Kasim, or this rated through that mountain, and that darting its rays temporary appearance of day-break. As it ascends. the earth is again veiled in darkness, until the sun rises above the mountain and brings with it the Soobhi Sadig, or real morning."-ScorT WARING. He thinks MILTON may allude to this, when he says, Ere the blabbing Eastern scout, Note 129, page 56, col. 1. feld a feast In his magnificent Shalimar. In the centre of the plain, as it approaches the Lake, one of the Delhi Emperors, I believe Shah Jehan, constructed a spacious garden called the Shalimar, which is abundantly stored with fruit-trees and flowering shrubs. Some of the rivulets which intersect the plain are led into a canal at the back of the garden, and, ng threagh its centre, or occasionally thrown into Note 130, page 57, col. 1. And ob if there be, etc. Chinese had formerly the art of painting, on of porcelain vessels, fish and other animals, only perceptible when the vessel was full of p. They call this species Kia-tsin, that is, put in press, on account of the manner in i azure is Laid on.. They are every now and og to recover the art of this magical painting, purpose.-DUNN. Note 132, page 59, col. 1. per than the divinest images in the House of Azor. sent carver of idols, said in the Koran to be Abraham. I have such a lovely idol as is not w in the house of Azor.-HAFIZ. Note 133, page 59, col. 1. The toes, bermitages, and miraculous fountains. Lanterns of the triple-coloured tortoise-shell of Pegu. Two hundred slaves there are, who have no other office than to hunt the woods and marshes for triplecoloured tortoises for the King's Vivary. Of the shell of these also lanterns are made.-VINCENT LE BLANC'S Travels. Note 136, page 59, col. 1. The meteors of the north, as they are seen by those hunters. For a description of the Aurora Borealis, as it appears to these hunters, see Encyclopædia. Note 137, page 59, col. 2. The cold, odoriferous wind. This wind, which is to blow from Syria Damascena, is, according to the Mahometans, one of the signs of the Last Day's approach. Another of the signs is, « Great distress in the world, so that a man when he passes by another's grave shall say, Would to God I were in his place!-SALE'S Pre liminary Discourse. Note 138, page 60, col. 1. The Cerulean Throne of Koolburga. On Mahommed Shaw's return to Koolburga (the capital of Dekkan), he made a great festival, and mounted this throne with much pomp and magnifi pardonable superstition of the sequestered in-cence, calling it Firozeh or Cerulean. I have heard multiplied the places of worship of Maha- some old persons, who saw the throne Firozeh in the Behin, and of Brama. All Cashmere is holy reign of Sultan Mamood Bhamence, describe it. They raculous fountains abound.-Major REN- say that it was in length nine feet, and three in breadth; Meirs of a Map of Hindostan. made of ebony, covered with plates of pure gold, and wire mentions a fountain in Cashmere call-set with precious stones of immense value. Every prince ra which signifies a snake; probably because of the house of Bhamence, who possessed this throne, snake had formerly been seen there.- made a point of adding to it some rich stones, so that life-time of my father, I went twice to when in the reign of Sultan Mamood it was taken to main, which is about twenty coss from the city pieces, to remove some of the jewels to be set in vases The vestiges of places of worship and and cups, the jewellers valued it at one crore of oons e io he traced without number, amongst (nearly four millions sterling). I learned also that it and the caves which are interspersed in its was called Firozeh from being partly enamelled of a **od, — TOOZEK JAHANGEERY.-See Asiat. sky-blue colour, which was in time totally concealed by the number of jewels.-FERISHTA. Epistles, Odes, and other Porms. Tanti non es, ais. Sapis, Luperce. MARTIAL, Lib. 1. Epig. 118. ΠΕΡΙΠΛΕΥΣΑΙ ΜΕΝ ΠΟΛΛΑΣ ΠΟΛΕΙΣ ΚΑΛΟΝ, ΕΝΟΙΚΗΣΑΙ ΔΕ ΤΗ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΗ ΧΡΗΣΙΜΟΝ. PLUTARCH. περι παιδων αγωγής. TO FRANCIS, EARL OF MOIRA, GENERAL IN HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES, MASTER-GENERAL OF THE ORDNANCE, MY LORD:-IT is impossible to think of addressing a I went to America with prepossessions by no means Dedication to your Lordship without calling to mind the unfavourable; and indeed rather indulged in many of well-known reply of the Spartan to a rhetorician, who those illusive ideas with respect to the purity of the proposed to pronounce an eulogium on Hercules. On government and the primitive happiness of the people, Hercules! said the honest Spartan, « who ever thought which I had early imbibed in my native country, where, of blaming Hercules? » In a similar manner the con- unfortunately discontent at home enhances every discurrence of public opinion has left to the panegyrist of tant temptation, and the western world has long been your Lordship a very superfluous task. I shall therefore looked to as a retreat from real or imaginary oppres be silent on the subject, and merely entreat your indul-sion, as the elysian Atlantis, where persecuted patriots gence to the very humble tribute of gratitude which I might find their visions realized, and be welcomed by have here the honour to present. I am, my Lord, With every feeling of attachment and respect, 27, Bury-street, St James's, April 10, 1806. PREFACE. kindred spirits to liberty and repose. I was completely disappointed in every flattering expectation which I had formed, and was inclined to say to America, as Horace says to his mistress, intentata nites. Brissot, in the preface to his travels, observes, that freedom in that country is carried to so high a degree as to border upon a state of nature; and there certainly is a close ap- ! proximation to savage life, not only in the liberty which i they enjoy, but in the violence of party spirit and of ¦ private animosity which results from it. This illiberal zeal embitters all social intercourse; and, though I scarcely could hesitate in selecting the party, whose THE principal poems in the following Collection were views appeared the more pure and rational, yet I was written during an absence of fourteen months from sorry to observe that, in asserting their opinions, they Europe. Though curiosity was certainly not the motive both assume an equal share of intolerance; the Demo of my voyage to America, yet it happened that the gra-crats, consistently with their principles, exhibiting a tification of curiosity was the only advantage which I vulgarity of rancour, which the Federalists too often are derived from it. Finding myself in the country of a so forgetful of their cause as to imitate. new people, whose infancy had promised so much, and whose progress to maturity has been an object of such interesting speculation, I determined to employ the short period of time, which my plan of return to Europe afforded me, in travelling through a few of the States and acquiring some knowledge of the inhabi tants. The impression which my mind received from the character and manners of these republicans, suggested the Epistles which are written from the city of Washington and Lake Erie.' How far I was right, in thus assuming the tone of a satirist against a people whom I viewed but as a stranger and a visitor, is a doubt which my feelings did not allow me time to investigate. All I presume to answer for is the fidelity of the picture which I have given; and though prudence might have dictated gentler language, truth, I think, would have justified severer. Epistles VI, VII, and VIII. The rude familiarity of the lower orders, and indeed the unpolished state of society in general, would neither surprise nor disgust if they seemed to flow from that simplicity of character, that honest ignorance of thei gloss of refinement, which may be looked for in a new and inexperienced people. But, when we find them arrived at maturity in most of the vices, and all the pride of civilization, while they are still so remote from its elegant characteristics, it is impossible not to feel that this youthful decay, this crude anticipation of the natural period of corruption, represses every sanguine hope of the future energy and greatness of America. I am conscious that, in venturing these few remarks. I have said just enough to offend, and by no means sufficient to convince; for the limits of a preface will nions, and I am committed on the subject as effectually not allow me to enter into a justification of my opias if I had written volumes in their defence. My reader. however, is apprized of the very cursory observation upon which these opinions are founded, and can easily decide for himself upon the degree of attention or confidence which they merit. With respect to the poems in general which occupy the following pages, I know not in what manner to apologize to the public for intruding upon their notice such a mass of unconnected trifles, such a world of epicurean atoms, as I have here brought in conflict together. To say that I have been tempted by the liberal offers of my bookseller, is an excuse which can hope for but little indulgence from the critic; yet I own that, without this seasonable inducement, these poems very possibly would never have been submitted to the world. The glare of publication is too strong for such imperfect productions: they should be shown but to the eye of friendship, in that dim light of privacy, which is as favourable to poetical as to female beauty, and serves as a veil for faults, while it enhances every charm which it displays. Besides, this is not a period for the idle occupations of poetry, and times like the present require talents more active and more useful. Few have now the leisure to read such trifles, and I sincerely regret that I have had the leisure to write them. EPISTLE I. TO LORD VISCOUNT STRANGFORD. ABOARD THE PHAETON FRIGATE, OFF THE AZORES, SWEET moon! if like Crotona's sage,' And write my thoughts, my wishes there; And all my heart and soul would send Oh, Strangford! when we parted last, To turn to rapture all we knew! When, mingling lore and laugh together, We lean'd the book on pleasure's bowl, And turn'd the leaf with folly's feather! I little thought that all were fled, That, ere that summer's bloom was shed, My eye should see the sail unfurl'd That wafts me to the western world! The heart may let its wanton wing Oh! she awaked such happy dreams, Even now delusive hope will steal Pursues the murmurers of the deep, And lights them with consoling gleam, And smiles them into tranquil sleep! Oh! such a blessed night as this, I often think, if friends were near, How we should feel, and gaze with bliss Upon the moon-bright scenery here! The sea is like a silvery lake, And o'er its calm the vessel glides Gently, as if it fear'd to wake The slumber of the silent tides! The only envious cloud that lowers, Hath hung its shade on Pico's height, Where dimly, 'mid the dusk, he towers, And, scowling at this Heaven of light, Exults to see the infant storm Cling darkly round his giant form' Now, could I range those verdant isles And see the looks, the melting smiles, That brighten many an orange bower; And could I lift each pious veil, And see the blushing cheek it shades, Oh! I should have full many a tale, To tell of young Azorian maids.3 Dear Strangford' at this hour, perhaps, Those madrigals, of breath divine, Which Camoens' harp from rapture stole, And gave, all glowing warm, to thine !4 Oh! could the lover learn from thee, And breathe them with thy graceful tone, Such dear beguiling minstrelsy Would make the coldest nymph his own. Alluding to these animated lines in the 44th Carmen of this poet : Jam mens prætrepidans avet vagari, 2 Pico is a very high mountain on one of the Azores, from which the island derives its name. It is said by some to be as high as the Peak of Teneriffe. 3 I believe it is Guthrie who says, that the inhabitants of the Azores are much addicted to gallantry. This is an assertion in which even Guthrie may be credited. 4 These islands belong to the Portuguese. |