“If I could have entertained the least hope or prospect of being able to undertake my promised excursion into Norfolk, I should not so long have delayed apprising you of it; but after having protracted writing from day to day, and from week to week, I am at length under the necessity of relinquishing, for the present, the pleasure I had so warmly anticipated, and consoling myself as well as I can under the pains of the rheumatism, which have of late left me little relaxation either by day or night.
“My spirits are, however, pretty good; and as I am
fortunate enough to be able to sit up, and even walk about a little, I am
seldom unemployed with objects either of business or amusement. Of the former,
my operations at Chat Moss have engaged a great share of my attention, as I
have promised some account of them to the Board of Agriculture, which this long
confinement has given me the opportunity of drawing up. I have also done
something
| 58 | LIFE OF WILLIAM ROSCOE. |
“You must, in all probability, have seen one of them, although you have not mentioned it in your travels, and will be able, perhaps, to clear up my conjectures.
“Another picture which I long to show you is a Madonna and Child, with St. Helena and St. Francis, by Don Ghirlandajo, the master of M. Angelo, painted, according to his custom, in distemper; but what constitutes its value is a freize, or history piece, below; the work of M. Angelo, when young; with strong indications of the great manner by which he afterwards distinguished himself.
“I hope before this time you will have received a copy
of my review of Mr. Canning’s
speeches; if not, be so good as to say so when
| LIFE OF WILLIAM ROSCOE. | 59 |
“Throughout this troublesome complaint I had many sleepless hours at night, in some of which I strung verses together, which I wrote down in the morning, and of which I send you a specimen; which I beg you to present to Mrs. Smith with my kind remembrances. Should she approve of them, she will perhaps do me the favour of sending a copy to Miss Coke, whenever she may have an opportunity.”
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The fair face of morning when sudden clouds cover,
And tempest and darkness envelope the day,
Shall the gloom of the moment deter the true lover
Who hastes to the home of his mistress away?
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When heaved from its base proudly swells the vast ocean,
And danger rides high on the crest of the wave,
Undaunted the mariner views the commotion,
And bares his bold bosom the sea-storm to brave.
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| 60 | LIFE OF WILLIAM ROSCOE. |
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Then say, shall the Patriot e’er prove a recoiler?
Shall the champion of freedom e’er stoop to
despair?
Shall he basely resign to the hands of the spoiler
The prize that high Heaven has consign’d to his
care?
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No! still to his task with fresh vigour returning,
He shall wage the bold war with corruption again,
As the lion, that, roused by the beam of the morning,
Shakes off the light dew-drops that hang on his mane.
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If he falls—like the warrior he falls in his duty,
Whilst his country shall hail him and angels approve;
If he conquers—he wins from the bright hand of beauty
The wreath wove by Liberty, Friendship, and Love.
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