twine of shells. 
    Though grave in aspect, when he smil’d,
    ’Twas gay and artless as a child,
    With him expression seem’d a law,—­
    You only Nature’s dictates saw;
    But they in full perfection wrought
    Of generous feeling, varied thought,—­
    All that can elevate or move,
    That we admire, esteem, and love!

      “Thus, when it pleas’d the youthful king,
    Who wish’d yet more to hear me sing,
    That I should follow o’er the main,
    In good Earl William’s sober train,
    As slow we linger’d on the seas,
    I inly blest each wayward breeze;
    For still the graceful knight was near,
    Prompt to discourse, relate, and hear: 
    The spirit had that exercise,
      The fine perceptions’ play,
    That perish with the worldly wise,
      The torpid, and the gay.

    “In the strings of their lyres as the poets of old
      Fresh blossoms were used to entwine;
    As the shrines of their gods were enamell’d with gold,
      And sparkling with gems from the mine: 

    “So, grac’d with delights that arise in the mind,
      As through flowers, the language should flow! 
    While the eye, where we fancy all soul is enshrin’d,
      With divine emanations should glow!

    “The voice, or the look, gifted thus, has a charm
      Remembrance springs onward to greet;
    And thought, like an angel, flies, living and warm,
      When announcing the moment to meet!

    “And it was thus when Eustace spoke,
      Thus brightly his ideas glanc’d,
      Met mine, and smil’d as they advanc’d,
    For all his fervour I partook,—­
    Pour’d out my spirit in each theme,
    And follow’d every waking dream! 
    Now in Fancy’s airy play,
    Near at hand, and far away,
    All that was sportive, wild, and gay! 
    Now led by Pity to deplore
    Hearts that can ache and bleed no more,
    We roam’d long tales of sadness o’er! 
    Now, prompted by achievements higher,
    We caught the hero’s, martyr’s fire! 
    Who, listening to an angel choir,
    Rapt and devoted, following still
      Where duty or religion led,
    The mind prepar’d, subdued the will,
    Bent their grand purpose to fulfil: 
      Conquer’d, endur’d, or meekly bled! 
    Nor wonder’d we, for we were given,
    Like them, to zeal, to truth, and heaven.

    “Receding silently from view,
    Freedom, unthought of, then withdrew;
    We neither mark’d her as she flew,
    Nor ever had her absence known
    From care or question of our own. 
    At court, emotion or surprize
    Reveal’d the truth to other eyes. 
    The pride of England’s nobles staid
    Too often near the minstrel maid;
    And many in derision smil’d,
    To see him pay a peasant’s child,
    For such they deem’d