Maimoune.

And years passed swiftly o ' er him , and he grew In stature and in strength ; his Tutors swore ( And I believe that it was strictly true ) His Royal Highness knew a vast deal more

Than the most erudite of all their crew ; In fact , they found it an exceeding bore , Whether for pleasure or for pride he task'd them , To answer half the questions that he ask'd them .

He was a great proficient in Astrology ; The best Accomptant in his sire ' s dominions ; Had dipp'd in Mathematics ; in Theology 'Twas thought he held heretical opinions ; But this was doubtful;—in all sorts of knowledge he

Was an adept , but on the Muse ' s pinions 'Twas his delight to soar ; when mounted on 'em , he Cared little for political economy .

An earnest lover of the Muse was he , And did her bidding for her own sweet sake ; Nor Fame he sigh'd for , nor aspir'd to be A star among the great ; but in the lake Which flows around the dome of Poesy He long'd the fever of his thirst to slack ; And drink the Music in his soul , which

springs From her deep , holy , lone imaginings . No proud intents , no purposes sublime Had he , nor care for glory not to die ; No aspirations over Fate and Time , Nor longings after Immortality .

He was no builder of the lofty rhyme , His own glad thoughts were all his Poesy ; He call'd his Album , in quaint terms of praise , His " register of comfortable days . '

And thus , from all his bosom ' s best affections , And sweet emotions , not unmix'd with pain , From Childhood's hopes , and Boyhood ' s recollections , And many a roving thought that cross'd his brain ,

Season d with here and there some grave reflections , He fram'd a sort of desultory strain . Of course , at Court his rhyming gaiu'd much credit From all who had , and some who had ' nt read it .

And thus his boyhood slid in smiles away , And he was nigh upon his sixteenth year , When , as it fell upon a certain day , He had a summons straightway to appear Before his Father ; as he went , they say His young limbs shook with an unusual

rear ; He had a strange presentiment , no doubt , That some infernal mischief was about . His gracious Father had it seems diseern'd ( He was a Prince of infinite sagacity ) Or it may be , by long experience learn'd

( Which much confirm'd him in his pertinacity ) That youthful blood with headstrong passion burn'd , And play'd the deuce with Princes ; so , to dash it , he Forgot his own antipathies , and swore His son should marry , and run wild no more .

He had moreover , as his subjects thought , Some more conclusive reasons of his own ; The King of China would have dearly bought Just then a close alliance with his Throne

; And had a most enchanting daughter , sought By the East ' s proudest , yet the Maiden shone Unmated still , and fancy-free , enshrin'd In the pure brig htness of her vestal mind .

She had seen fifteen summers ; Youth had wrapt her In its most radiant loveliness ; no g lance Of her wild eyes ere shone without a capture , E ' en through her veil ; and oh ! to see

her dance ! Why 'twould have kill'd onr British beaux with rapture , And caus'd a " great sensation " e ' en in France .