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in the English Peerage), to whose ancient heraldic escutcheon your Lordship has added the blazonry of Literary and Moral Eminence—twin-jewels, that will gild the coronet of Carlisle with a halo which will glow with undiminished lustre, when the brow it now so gracefully encircles, and the hand that pens this willing tribute, are alike laid low in the sod.

There is a passage in one of the following pieces, which your Lordship has already seen, that renders my choice of a Patron peculiarly appropriate. It is descriptive of the death of a youthful Officer on the field of Waterloo. England, my Lord, will not soon forget the similarly glorious fate of your noble and gallant relative, the Honourable Frederick Howard, Major of Hussars, who thus fell in that memorable battle, and whose name is enshrined in the lofty verse of the Author of "Childe Harold."

I remain, My Lord,

Your Lordship's most grateful and obliged Servant,

ALEXANDER GOUGE.

September 1st, 1854.

PREFACE.

IN making his début in the World of Letters, the Author of the following effusions in verse, will, perhaps, scarcely be required to apologise to the Public. The advantages derived from Literature in general, and from Poetry as a branch of it, are doubtless too obvious to render a defence necessary. Their natural tendency is to polish, refine, and elevate. The magical and lasting influence of the latter, on the Mind alike of individuals and of nations, is remarkable. The Poems of Ossian are treasured in the memories, and kindle the enthusiasm of the humble peasantry of Scotland and of Erin; and the verses Tasso wrote three centuries ago still echo from

the lips and awaken the sympathies of the Minstrel and the Gondolier of the South.

The Prince of Roman Critics takes the highest ground when he makes the assertion,

"Carmine Dî superi placantur, carmine Manes."1

Of all Inventors, the Son of the Muses is best entitled to sound the "Evpnka," and shout "Io triumphe!" for he is the discoverer of the fulcrum, vainly sighed for by Archimedes, on which to rest the lever that can move the world! Would that a power, so mighty were always turned to a good account: would that it were always employed to direct the counterpoise on which it acts further from the dark Chaos of Vice and Profanity, and nearer to the glorious Sun of Truth would that it were oftener enlisted on the side of Virtue; then might it prove the true Philosopher's Stone, changing all it touches to gold.

In submitting his Maiden Work to the notice of the Reviewers, the Author would transpose the speech of the ancient Athenian to his warlike confederate, and say "Hear me: then strike "-if a stroke be necessary. The motto on the Title-page will furnish a clue to the moderate scope of his ambition in the

(1) Horace Epistle I. book ii. v. 138.

present undertaking. "The Golden Age," placed first in the list, as being the most classical theme, and the longest (though it may probably prove the least popular) Piece of the whole, is doubtless a more suitable subject for an Epic Poem: but it was foreign to my purpose to mould it into that shape, or I should have chosen a more regular and sonorous measure. It is a brief Lyrical Narrative-a miniature Draught, presenting the outline and prominent figures, on a reduced scale, (without the amplification, diffusiveness, and colouring,) of the finished Heroic Picture. Notes are appended for the use of general readers.

And now, "most potent, grave, and reverend Seigniors"-Critics and Public-I take my leave; hoping the perusal of this little volume may afford some pleasure, and yield no pain, either intellectual or moral, to the most correct taste. I have endeavoured to steer clear alike of the flats of commonplace and poetastry, and the mists of Cloudland: I must plead guilty to the charge of being "a Fool to Fame," while Fair Desert is the condition of the race, and Honour the garland: but I have no ambition to

build a literary renown

66 on the fallen ruins of

another's name," or by writing ought that would—

"Give Virtue scandal, Innocence a fear,

"Or, from the soft-eyed virgin, steal a tear."'

No; "teach me, Heaven! to scorn the guilty bays,
"Drive, from my breast, that wretched lust of praise:
"Unblemish'd let me write, or die unknown-

"Oh, grant an honest fame-or grant me none! "2

Whatever fate may attend these productions, their Author will never regret the innocent gratification he has derived from the employment thus afforded when laid aside by ill-health from the duties of a more laborious and lucrative profession: content, in the imaginary prospect of temporary defeat, to inscribe "Invicta" on his Muse's banner, and at the worst, exclaim with Francis I., after the battle of Pavia, "All is lost-save honour!”

While thus prepared against failure, he hopes and anticipates success.

SITTINGBOURNE,

August 18th, 1854.

ALEXANDER GOUGE.

(1) Pope: Prologue to Satires.

(2) Id. Temple of Fame.

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