These when the princes marked, they moved awhile Or sat enthroned upon some broidered bank (The lowlier flowers in wrecks around them thrown), Shadowed with roses rising rank on rank: And there, now wreathed, now leaning into one, At twelve years of age the boy follows the standard of the Cross to Palestine; and, after some years spent in the wars, to his great honour and glory, he returns to the home and wife of his childhood: Strange joy they found all day in wandering over The spots in which their childish sports had been ; A broken light brightened yet more the scene! No more remains of all this grand old story. No spoils unjust they sought, or unjust praise. But ye profane and unbelieving crowd! Who dare to mock our childish bridal, cease! Make answer first, and answer make aloud, Unblest was that which gave two kingdoms peace? Much less, much less the high-souled Muse approves Grey hairs in rage and hate than infant loves!' We now take our leave of Mr. De Vere's poetry, commending it to the care of a class which we believe to be daily increasing the students of this art in its higher walks. Poetry has been supposed to be not much the fashion of late years; but the truth is thatwith few, very few exceptions-poetry of the highest order never has been the fashion at any time; it has never been extensively popular. It is true of the last twenty years that popular poetry has lost its popularity; but it is also true of the last ten, that poetry which was aimed at a higher mark than popularity, has gained a large accession of devoted students of readers who seek in poetry the highest knowledge invested with the least perishable charm. It is these men who lay the foundation of a great poet's fame; and it is through a popular recognition of their judgment and a sympathy with their admiration, that such poets as Milton and Wordsworth come to be popular in the only sense in which they can be said to be sothat is, that their merits come to be fully acknowledged, though but partially felt and perceived, by readers at large. THE WAYS OF THE RICH AND GREAT.* THERE is a great and grievous complaint in some quarters, that the Rich are too rich, and that their riches are continually increasing, whilst from other quarters the complaint is, that those who thus complain have as great a desire for riches as if they saw no harm in them. A few years ago a writer of great sagacity and knowledge of the world, represented England to be a country in which poverty is contemptible. Such an account of things tends to propagate the sentiment it * This essay (which, had it been written in time, might more properly have been included in the volume of 'Notes from Life,' than in that of 'Notes from Books') is now first published, with the exception of a few pages, transferred to it from an article in the Quarterly Review for October, 1832. Those pages, in so far as they relate to milliners' apprentices and needle-women, concerning whom so much has been written so recently, may be thought, perhaps, to be less needed now than they were in 1832. But the evil adverted to still exists. proclaims; because in all countries there are many who are prepared to go with the stream. But let us hope that it is not a true account. There are large numbers of Englishmen, though not, perhaps, of the particular section of society which fell more directly under the observation of that writer, by whom poverty is not despised, unless resulting from indolence or misconduct, and by whom riches are not respected, unless well won or well spent. Nevertheless it is true enough that riches are too much valued by some classes, whilst they are regarded with jealousy by others; and in the present state of society it were well if all classes could be led to consider justly, and if none would permit themselves to consider enviously or ungently, the manner in which riches are expended, and the general demeanour of the Rich and the Great. Although the Rich are a small minority of the people, there is no reason why their happiness and enjoyments should not be cared |