But at Constantinople

The arm and hand were shown,

Until the mighty Ottoman

O'erthrew the Grecian throne.

And when the Monks this tale who told
To pious visitors would hold

The holy hand for kissing,
They never fail'd with faith devout
In confirmation to point out

That there the Thumb was missing.

Keswick, 1829.

EPILOGUE TO THE YOUNG DRAGON.

I TOLD my tale of the Holy Thumb

That split the Dragon asunder,

And my daughters made great eyes as they heard, Which were full of delight and wonder.

With listening lips and looks intent,

There sate an eager boy,

Who shouted sometimes and clapt his hands,

And could not sit still for joy.

But when I look'd at my Mistress's face,
It was all too grave the while;

And when I ceased, methought there was more
Of reproof than of praise in her smile.

That smile I read aright, for thus
Reprovingly said she,

"Such tales are meet for youthful ears,
But give little content to me.

"From thee far rather would I hear

Some sober, sadder lay,

Such as I oft have heard, well pleased

Before those locks were grey."

"Nay, Mistress mine," I made reply,

"The autumn hath its flowers, Nor ever is the sky more gay Than in its evening hours.

"Our good old Cat, Earl Tomlemagne,
Upon a warm spring day,
Even like a kitten at its sport,

Is sometimes seen to play.

"That sense which held me back in youth
From all intemperate gladness,
That same good instinct bids me shun
Unprofitable sadness.

"Nor marvel you if I prefer

Of playful themes to sing,

The October grove hath brighter tints
Than Summer or than Spring:

"For o'er the leaves before they fall
Such hues hath Nature thrown,
That the woods wear in sunless days
A sunshine of their own.

66 'Why should I seek to call forth tears?
The source from whence we weep
Too near the surface lies in youth,
In age it lies too deep.

"Enough of foresight sad, too much
Of retrospect have I;

And well for me that I sometimes
Can put those feelings by ;

"From public ills, and thoughts that else Might weigh me down to earth,

That I can gain some intervals
For healthful, hopeful mirth;

"That I can sport in tales which suit

Young auditors like these,

Yet, if I err not, may content
The few I seek to please.

"I know in what responsive minds
My lightest lay will wake
A sense of pleasure, for its own,
And for its author's sake.

"I know the eyes in which the light
Of memory will appear;

I know the lips which while they read
Will wear a smile sincere:

"The hearts to which my sportive song
The thought of days will bring,
When they and I, whose Winter now
Comes on, were in our Spring.

"And I their well known voices too,

Though far away, can hear, Distinctly, even as when in dreams They reach the inward ear.

"There speaks the man we knew of yore,' Well pleased I hear them say, 'Such was he in his lighter moods Before our heads were grey.

"Buoyant he was in spirit, quick Of fancy, blithe of heart,

And Care and Time and Change have left Untouch'd his better part.'

"Thus say my morning friends who now
Are in the vale of years,

And I, save such as thus may rise,
Would draw no other tears."

Keswick, 1829.

END OF THE SIXTH VOLUME.