Yet he touched little
which he did not beautify: and this song, with "Rule Britannia" and a
few others, must make us regret that he did not more seriously apply
himself to lyrical writing.
which he did not beautify: and this song, with "Rule Britannia" and a
few others, must make us regret that he did not more seriously apply
himself to lyrical writing.
Golden Treasury
The Editor has found no authoritative text of this poem, in his judgment
superior to any other of its class in melody and pathos. Part is
probably not later than the seventeenth century: in other stanzas a more
modern hand, much resembling Scott's, is traceable. Logan's poem (127)
exhibits a knowledge rather of the old legend than of the old verses.
_Hecht_: promised, the obsolete _hight_; _mavis_: thrush; _ilka_: every;
_lav'rock_: lark; _haughs_: valley-meadows; _twined_: parted from;
_marrow_: mate; _syne_ then.
Poem 129.
The _Royal George_, of 108 guns, whilst undergoing a partial careening
in Portsmouth Harbour, was overset about 10 A. M. Aug. 29, 1782. The
total loss was believed to be near 1000 souls.
Poem 131.
A little masterpiece in a very difficult style: Catullus himself could
hardly have bettered it. In grace, tenderness, simplicity, and humour it
is worthy of the Ancients; and even more so, from the completeness and
unity of the picture presented.
Poem 136.
Perhaps no writer who has given such strong proofs of the poetic nature
has left less satisfactory poetry than Thomson.
Yet he touched little
which he did not beautify: and this song, with "Rule Britannia" and a
few others, must make us regret that he did not more seriously apply
himself to lyrical writing.
Poem 140.
_Aeolian lyre_: the Greeks ascribed the origin of their Lyrical Poetry
to the colonies of Aeolis in Asia Minor.
_Thracia's hills_ supposed a favourite resort of Mars.
_Feather'd king_ the Eagle of Jupiter, admirably described by Pindar in
a passage here imitated by Gray.
_Idalia_: in Cyprus, where _Cytherea_ (Venus) was especially worshipped.
_Hyperion_: the Sun. St. 6-8 allude to the Poets of the Islands and
Mainland of Greece, to those of Rome and of England.
_Theban Eagle_: Pindar.
Poem 141.
_chaste-eyed Queen_: Diana.
Poem 142.
_Attic warbler_: the nightingale.
Poem 144.
_sleekit_: sleek; _bickering brattle_: flittering flight; _laith_: loth;
_pattle_: ploughstaff; _whyles_: at times; _a daimen icker_: a corn-ear
now and then; _thrave_: shock; _lave_: rest; _foggage_: aftergrass;
_snell_: biting; _but hald_: without dwelling-place; _thole_: bear;
_cranreuch_: hoarfrost; _thy lane_: alone; _a-gley_: off the right
line, awry.
