By the Hon. T- B----M'A-.
[This {136}and the five following Poems were among those forwarded to
the Home Secretary, by "the unsuccessful competitors for the
Laureateship, on its becoming vacant by the death of Southey. How they
came into our possession is a matter between Sir James Graham and
ourselves. The result of the contest could never have been doubtful,
least of all to the great poet who then succeeded to the bays. His own
sonnet on the subject is full of the serene consciousness of
superiority, which does not even admit the idea of rivalry, far less of
defeat.
Bays! which in former days have graced the brow
Of some, who lived and loved, and sang and died;
Leaves that were gathered on the pleasant side
Of old Parnassus from Apollo's bough;
With palpitating hand I take ye now,
Since worthier minstrel there is none beside,
And with a thrill of song half deified,
I bind them proudly on my locks of snow.
There shall they bide, till he who follows next,
Of whom I cannot even guess the name,
Shall by Court favour, or some vain pretext
Of fancied merit, desecrate the same,--
And think, perchance, he wears them quite as well
As the sole bard who sang of Peter Bell!]