A retrospective look to cast,
E'en on the remnants of the past,
Muse on the fate of mortal things,
And nurse the truth Reflection brings;
On the good deed a smile bestow,
Though done a thousand years ago:
And, though in Virtue's cause sincere,
Give to the bad a pitying Tear;

For who, alas! our pity claim

Like those whom Time consigns to shame,
Since every action mean is told
In every fragment we behold?

The Chisel thus, in double trust,
Serves both as monument and bust;
The Canvass thus records disgrace,
'Spite of the flatter'd form or face;
The honest finger-post of Time,
Points to the long-remember'd crime,
E'en where an iron scarce is seen,
To mark where Nature's scourge has been;
The fastnesses each tyrant made,

With generous scorn is still survey'd ;
While not a shrub, a flower, or tree,
Sacred, Humanity! to Thee,

Or Thou, lov'd Muse, supremely fair,
But Love shall foster it with care,

Yes-Pair ador'd! the proud may spurn,
But Love shall consecrate your Urn,
Shall guard the ruins of the Lyre,
Whose very ashes can inspire.

Bless

Bless the sweet banks where you have laid,
And nurse the bower which you

have made;
The stream shall cherish which you sung,
And all your haunts seem ever young.
And were the moss'd or ivy'd wall,
Or the vast pyramid to fall,
Still, Virtue, thy unfading deed,
In every fragment we should read.

If but an atom of the Dome

Which Virtue once had call'd her home,

Whether a Palace, or a Cot,

The heart would recognise the spot;
Would to that atom incense give,
Which nought but Virtue could receive ;
And more than pilgrim homage pay,
And bear it as a prize away.

HAMPTON! 'tis thus thy scenes I view,
In Time and Mem'ry's mirror true.
Thy walnut-shade deep thought supplies,
Thy very ruins school the Wise;

And in thy solemn walks is seen,

i

Tho' cut thro' one unvarying green,

Calm Comtemplation,-Virtue's Friend,-
The Soul at once to move and mend.

I view fast crowding on the sight,
Thy pride, thy pastime, and delight!
Thy Beauty-room* I now espy,

Which once with Cupid's Court might vie!

An apartment so called.

But ah! the charms that won the heart,
Bloom now but in the painter's art,
Whose pictur'd Venuses and train,
Now only on thy walls remain.

How different from the mighty Vine*
Expanding like some plant divine,
Seeming the tooth of Time to brave,
Triumphant o'er the greedy grave,
Still flourishing in verdure high
While Kings and Queens in ashes lie.
Yet shall th' immortal spirit soar,

When thou, proud Vine, art green no more.

And last come forth on Eagle wing,

The despot o'er a despot King:

A more than eagle flight to try,
In all the pomps of jubilee.
When as the merry cup went round,

He seem'd to hide but to be found.

In a grape-house on the south side of the palace (70 feet by 14) is a vine of the black Hamburgh kind, which occupies the whole house, and is much celebrated for its size and produce. It was planted in the year 1769. The stem is about thirteen inches in girth, the principal branch having been trained back at the extremity of the house, is 114 feet in length. This vine has been known to produce in one year 2200 bunches of grapes, weighing on an average one pound each.--Lysons.

From the information of Thomas Haverfield, principal gardener at Hampton-Court.

↑ Cardinal Wolsey's entertainment of the French ambassadors, given at Hampton-Court.-Stowe, in his Annals, has given an account of this magnificent festival. The following may offer some idea of its splendour:

And

And tho' the humblest at the Feast,

Was proudest when he seem'd the least.

Yes, good Lord Cardinal, for thee,
And not thy King * this Pageantry.
Well didst thou play the subject's part,
The monarch swelling at thy heart;
And all thy magic subtlety,

But gaily mask'd thy sov'reignty.
The mystic dance, the garish show,
The guests all rang'd in goodly row;
The rare device, the cost and sport,
Were for the Ruler of the Court:

For him the Cooks wrought day and night,
For him the Banquet rose to sight.

Yet, Wolsey, when thou seem'd in shade,
And most thy Henry seem'd obey'd.—
Then thy ambitious course was run,
The Shadow he, but thou the Sun.

"Then was there made great preparation of all things for this great assembly at Hampton-Court; the Cardinal called before him his principal officers, as steward, treasurer, controller, and clerk of his kitchen, to whom he declared his mind touching the entertainment of the Frenchmen at Hampton-Court, commanding them neither to spare for any cost, expence, or travayle to make such a triumphant banquet as they might not only wonder at it here, but, also, make a glorious report of it in their country; to the great honour of the King of England and his realm. The cookes wrought both day and night, with suttleties and many crafty devices, where lacked neither gold, silver, nor other costly thing, meet for their purpose: the yeomen and groomes of the wardrobe were busied in hanging of the chambers, and furnishing the same with beds of silk and other furniture in every degree."

And

Yet ah! full dearly didst thou pay
For all these subtleties so gay;

And every Bard has mark'd the shame,
The dire reverse of Wolsey's fame.
But one fair truth the Muse shall tell,
Thou serv'dst thy master long and well;
And tho' thy Pride no limit knew,
Thy Loyalty was warm and true!

FLORA JEALOUS.

TO DR. THORNTON (a),

ON RECEIVING A PRESENT OF SOME BEAUTIFULLY PAINTED PLANTS FROM HIS TEMPLE OF FLORA, TO DECORATE THE POET'S COTTAGE

O FOR Some bow'ry nook, 'midst Nature's scenes
Of purest Blossoms and unsullied Greens!
A still, small HOME, that I may call my own,
My joy, my pride, my palace, and my throne:
With yet a morsel, sav'd by frugal care,

A social morsel for a Friend to share!

Thus pray'd the Muse a Poet's wish to crown.Upon a Poet's wish what Muse can frown?

* See page 29 of this volume.

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