With placid vengeance, and each anguish'd cry
Gave me stern satisfaction; now he's dead,
And his lips move not ;-yet his voice's image
Flash'd such a dreadful darkness o'er my soul,
I would not mount Numidia's throne again,
Did every night bring such a scream as that.
Oh 'twas I that caused that living one,
yes,
And therefore did its echo seem so frightful:-
If 'twere to do again, I would not kill thee;
Wilt thou not be contented?-But thou say'st,

66

My father was to thee a father also;

"He watch'd thy infant years, he gave thee all
"That youth could ask, and scarcely manhood came
"Than came a kingdom also; yet didst thou"-
Oh I am faint!-they have not brought me food-
How did I not perceive it until now?

Hold,-my Numidian cruise is still about me-
No drop within-Oh faithful friend! companion
Of many a weary march and thirsty day,
"Tis the first time that thou hast fail'd my lips.—
Gods! I'm in tears!-I did not think of weeping.
Oh, Marius, wilt thou ever feel like this?—
Ha! I behold the ruins of a city;
And on a craggy fragment sits a form
That seems in ruins also: how unmoved,
How stern he looks! Amazement! it is Marius!
Ha! Marius, think'st thou now, upon Jugurtha?
He turns! he's caught my eye! I see no more!

The above poem was written in the first year of his college course, at which early period he had gained the highest distinction amongst his contemporaries for his classical attainments. Towards the close of the same year, he had to sustain a severe domestic affliction, in the death of his mother, an event which wrought upon his affectionate heart an impression of the deepest regret.

As soon as he was enabled to resume his studies, he entered upon them with diligence. He did not, at first, apply with much interest or assiduity to the course of science prescribed in our university; and it appears that the circumstance which first led him to bestow upon it the attention proportioned to its importance, was a desire to assist some less gifted acquaintance in that branch of his academic pursuits. This was indeed truly characteristic of his natural disposition, which ever led him to apply himself with greater zeal in promoting the advantage or interest of others than his own. It had, however, a favourable effect upon his own studies, as it drew out his talents for scientific acquirements, and gave such an impulse to his progress that he soon

after won the prize from the most distinguished competitors, at an examination in which the severer sciences formed the leading subjects. When his circumstances, some time afterwards, rendered it expedient for him to undertake the duties of a college tutor, he discharged the task with such singular devotedness and disinterested anxiety, as materially to entrench upon his own particular studies. He was indeed so prodigal of his labour and of his time to each pupil, that he reserved little leisure for his own pursuits or relaxations.

At the usual period he obtained a scholarship, with the highest honour, upon which he immediately became a resident in college. A new theatre of literary honour was opened to him at the commencement of the same year, where his genius for composition in prose and verse, and his natural powers of oratorical excellence, had more ample sphere for exercise and cultivation. In the Historical Society, of which he was now admitted a member, they were encouraged and expanded by the stimulus of generous competition, and by constant mental collision with the most accomplished and enlightened of his fellow-students. He soon

The

obtained medals for oratory, and for compositions in prose and verse; and was early appointed to the honourable office of opening the sessions, after the summer recess, by a speech from the chair. This was the grand post of distinction to which the most successful speakers in the society continually aspired. main object of the address was to unfold the advantages resulting from the Institution, and to expatiate at large upon its three leading departments,-History, Poetry, and Oratory. Our author, though he had not fully completed his speech, was received with the highest applause, and the gold medal was adjudged to him by unanimous acclamation. This speech seems never to have been written out fairly; but some fragments of it have been preserved, which, with a few other of his early productions, shall be presented to the reader in the course of this volume.

Most of his poems were written within a very short period, during his abode in college; but the order in which they were composed cannot be exactly ascertained. It is not the editor's object to enter into any minute critique upon the several fugitive little pieces which are

here collected together. They shall be accompanied principally with such brief notices as may appear necessary to throw light upon the occasions which gave rise to them, and the circumstances under which they were written.

The next specimen of his poetical talents, which it may not be uninteresting to insert here, seems to have been but little valued by himself, as he never took the trouble of transcribing more than a few lines from the first rude sketch. His native modesty, and the fastidious judgment which he exercised over all his own compositions, led him often to undervalue what even his most judicious friends approved and admired.

The subject of the present poem is one of great historical interest. It chiefly refers to the battle of Busaco, which first inspired the allied armies with mutual confidence, and led the way to those successful struggles which terminated in the complete deliverance of Portugal from the usurpation and tyranny of France. A brief account of this engagement, extracted from the Edinburgh Annual Register (vol. iii. p. 462), may form an appropriate introduction to the poem.