XXV.

IN THE ALBUM OF MRS. JANE TOWERS.
LADY unknown, who cravest from me unknown
The trifle of a verse these leaves to grace,
How shall I find fit matter? with what face
Address a face that ne'er to me was shown?
Thy looks, tones, gesture, manners, and what not,
Conjecturing, I wander in the dark.

I know thee only sister to Charles Clarke !
But at that name my cold Muse waxes hot,
And swears that thou art such a one as he,
Warm, laughter-loving, with a touch of madness,
Wild, glee-provoking, pouring oil of gladness
From frank heart without guile. And, if thou be
The pure reverse of this, and I mistake-
Demure one, I will like thee for his sake.

XXVI.

IN THE ALBUM OF EDITH SOUTHEY].

(The Athenæum, 9th March, 1833.)

[Upon the opposite page is given a facsimile of this sonnet in Charles Lamb's own handwriting.]

IN Christian world MARY the garland wears!
REBECCA Sweetens on a Hebrew's ear;
Quakers for pure PRISCILLA are more clear;
And the light Gaul by amorous NINON Swears.
Among the lesser lights how LUCY shines!

What air of fragrance ROSAMOND throws around!
How like a hymn doth sweet CECILIA Sound!
Of MARTHAS, and of ABIGAILS, few lines
Have bragg'd in verse.

Of coarsest household stuff
But can

Should homely JOAN be fashioned.

You BARBARA resist, or MARIAN?
And is not CLARE for love excuse enough?
Yet, by my faith in numbers, I profess,

These all, than Saxon EDITH, please me less.

Miscellaneous Poems.

[The initials C. L. were alone subscribed to the four earliest sonnets in 1796. Coleridge, however, at once identified the writer in his Preface as "Mr. Charles Lamb of the India House." During the following year, 1797, Charles Lamb and Charles Lloyd brought out at Bristol together with Coleridge, and afterwards apart from Coleridge, another collection of poems to which they contributed about equally. The issuing thus, almost timorously, in partnership with others, of one or two unpretending booklets, began for Charles Lamb-as by the first tender sproutings of a half-planted acorn-the growth of what has since struck the deepest roots in the affections of the English people, and has become a gnarled and enduring reputation.]