Start not, nor deem my spot fled;
   In me behold the only skull
From which, unlike a living head,
   Whatever flows is never dull.

I liv’d, I lov’d, I quaff’d like thee;
   I died, but earth my bones resign: 
Fill up—­thou canst not injure me,
   The worm hath fouler lips than thine.

Better to hold the sparkling grape
   Than nurse the earth-worm’s slimy brood,
And circle in the goblet’s shape
   The drink of gods than reptile’s food.

Where once my wit perchance hath shone,
   In aid of others let me shine;
And when, alas, our brains are gone,
   What nobler substitute than wine?

Quaff while thou canst—­another race,
   When thou and thine like me are sped,
May rescue thee from earth’s embrace,
   And rhyme and revel with the dead.

Why not? since through life’s little day,
   Our heads such sad effects produce;
Redeem’d from worms and wasting clay,
   This chance is theirs, to be use.

CHAPTER VII

Effect of the Criticism in the “Edinburgh Review”—­“English Bards and Scotch Reviewers”—­His Satiety—­Intention to Travel—­Publishes his Satire—­Takes his Seat in the House of Lords—­Departs for Lisbon; thence to Gibraltar

The impression which the criticism of the Edinburgh Review produced upon the juvenile poet was deep and envenomed.  It stung his heart, and prompted him to excess.  But the paroxysms did not endure long; strong volitions of revenge succeeded, and the grasps of his mind were filled, as it were, with writhing adders.  All the world knows, that this unquenchable indignation found relief in the composition of English Bards and Scotch Reviewers; a satire which, in many passages, equals, in fervour and force, the most vigorous in the language.

It was during the summer of 1808, while the poet was residing at Newstead, that English Bards and Scotch Reviewers was principally written.  He bestowed more pains upon it than perhaps on any other of his works; and, though different from them all, it still exhibits strong indications of the misanthropy with which, after quitting Cambridge, he became more and more possessed.  It is painful to reflect, in considering the splendid energy displayed in the poem, that the unprovoked malice which directed him to make the satire so general, was, perhaps, the main cause of that disposition to wither his reputation, which was afterwards so fervently roused.  He could not but expect, that, in stigmatising with contempt and ridicule so many persons by name, some of them would retaliate.  Nor could he complain of injustice if they did; for his attack was so wilful, that the rage of it can only be explained by supposing he was instigated to “the one fell swoop,” by a resentful conviction, that his impillory in the Edinburgh Review had amused them all.

I do not conceive, that the generality of the satire can be well extenuated; but I am not inclined to regard it as having been a very heinous offence.  The ability displayed in it is a sufficient compensation.  The beauty of the serpent’s skin appeases the aversion to its nature.  Moreover, a toothless satire is verse without poetry--the most odious of all respectable things.