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 The Profits arising from the publication 
 of this Ode, are for the benefit of the Devon 
 and Exeter Lying-in Charity,
 
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 AN 
 
 ODE, 
 
 WRITTEN IN COMMEMORATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Ibplentrttr ©tttettatttmrnt, 
 
 WHICH WAS GIVEN BV 
 
 Of the County of Devon, 
 
 AT THE 
 
 5iel)on aitlr ©vftcv Jbtti3jJcn|Jttott l^oomjaf, 
 
 ON THURSDAY, 
 THK TWENTY-NINTH OF DECEMBER, 
 
 A. D. 1825. 
 
 LAUNCESTON : 
 THOMAS EYRE, CHURCH-STREET. 
 
 182G.
 
 I
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 SANTA BARBARA 
 
 TO 
 THE BACHELORS OF DEVONSHIRE, 
 
 TO WHOSE LIBERALITY 
 
 THE COUNTY HAS RECENTLY BEEN INDEBTED, 
 
 FOR 
 
 Ttfxt moist mastttficent a^ntmatnmrttt, 
 
 EVER WITNESSED WITHIN ITS PRECINCTS ; 
 
 THE FOLLOWING ODE 
 IS INSCRIBED, 
 BY 
 
 A PARTAKER OF THEIR HOSPITALITY.
 
 PRErAci:. 
 
 Devonshire being- decidedly a Fox-hunt- 
 ing County, — the Author deemed it most proper 
 to introduce the subject in its present form : 
 not merely because many of those Gentlemen, 
 whose munificence is so well recorded by (he 
 late entertainment, are Fox-hunters : but, be-
 
 VI PREFACE. 
 
 cause that class of Sportsmeu, are too often 
 supposed to give up their whole time and atten- 
 tion to the prosecution of their favorite amuse- 
 ment. The late instance however, is not the 
 on!}' i)roof of the Altars of Diana being some- 
 times neglected for the Temple of Venus ; and 
 the Author will now only venture to add his 
 hopes — that the dcsertei's may soon be repaid, 
 by that consumniation of their hopes, which will 
 not long leave them at liberty to avail them-
 
 PREFACE. Vll 
 
 selves of the privilege, which has lately enabled 
 them, with distinguished and unexampled libe- 
 rality, to contribute to the high gratification of 
 a very numerous assemblage of their friends — 
 and of none, perhaps more, than that of 
 Their obliged. 
 
 And faithful servant, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Januarv 6th, 1826.
 
 JA
 
 IXTTRODVCTZON. 
 
 Where pauses, lingering in the western heaven 
 
 The latest ray that floats upon the billow ; 
 
 And where, declining i'aintly with the even 
 
 It sinks, to rest upon its fiery pillow : 
 
 There — Ictis — rears its battlemented head 
 
 In solemn grandeur o'er the craggy steep,
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Regardless of the eddies as they spread 
 Around its base the splendours of the deep : 
 There, have I joyed to hear the organ's note, 
 Loud pealing from its richly fretted dome ; 
 Whilst on the wave it fitful seemed to float, 
 And raise the soul to thoughts of latest home ! 
 O'er looking this fair scene, but little known. 
 By the rude iron hand of time oppressed, 
 In verdure rich ; with pine-clad mounts o'ergrown 
 Stands there an ancient venerable rest ;
 
 INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 There first from nothing into light I sprung. 
 And though Devonia's clime received me not. 
 Yet, whilst my speech in lisping accents hung, 
 To seek her vales, became my early lot. 
 Nor deemed I ought unlucky ; nor repined : 
 E'en though my native soil may justly boast 
 Of Nature's richest gifts, that e'er combined 
 To deck the scenes, of Albion's, happy Coast. 
 Think'st thou, it recks not that my Father's Halls 
 Are uninhabited and dank and drear '
 
 xii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 I could have loved them once, and made those walls 
 
 Ring to the sound of mirth and goodly cheer. 
 
 Early I left that home ; nor ever more 
 
 Found joyful welcome there : Ere my return — 
 
 Its guardian Angel, long had left this shore 
 
 To seek in Heaven, an hospitable bourn ! 
 
 Here — In Devonia's paradise of groves — 
 
 My infant years were happily beguiled ; 
 
 And on these scenes, which still my soul best loves ; 
 
 A much loved parent, erst while sweetly smiled :
 
 INTRODUCTION. Xlu 
 
 Here, now — domestic peace hath fixed her reign, 
 
 And infant smiles reward parental care ; 
 
 Here too, of valued friends a lengthened train 
 
 Oft "toom the stoop to friendship's growth" and share 
 
 Sincerity's best meed ; and these fair scenes 
 
 Around my heart, have woven such a web, 
 
 So sweet — so close — that Devon's verdant plains, 
 
 Must claim my love, to life's expiring ebb. — 
 
 Seek not my name, nor haply now refuse 
 
 The willing tribute of an humble muse !
 
 Air ODE 
 
 ON 
 
 ^ftc ISacHrlOfjS iSalU 
 
 Lord of the Golden Crown ! 
 
 Whose glorious blaze, 
 Through th'empyreal vault displays. 
 The circling radiance of its conq'ring rays : 
 From thine Olympian seat look down ! 
 
 And, from thy Syrian bowers
 
 17 AN ODE. 
 
 Rich studded o'er with Amaranthine flowers ; 
 Grant me, one draught of the Castalian spring. 
 
 To aid my lay : 
 Whilst of Danmonia's sons, this day 
 
 The praises I essay to sing. 
 Her groves long consecrate had been. 
 
 To Dian empress of the scene : 
 Her tufted vales, but echoed the sound, 
 Oi the tuneful horn, or the bay of the hound ; 
 The Cynthian goddess there,
 
 AN ODE. 18 
 
 Had built her g^rot : 
 And reared, with sylvan care, 
 Her altars in a favored spot 
 
 Of Eggesford's friendly shade 
 Where, with a noble zeal. 
 The Genius of that fair domain. 
 
 Had lent his aid, 
 And gloi'ied to promote the weal, 
 Of Dian's joyful train :
 
 19 AN ODE. 
 
 But, let me rest; 
 TWalready blest 
 Claim not this muses lay ! 
 Fain would she attune her measures. 
 To those who yet must catch new pleasures ; 
 And at imperial Hymen's shrine. 
 
 In search of bliss divine. 
 Their vows have yet to pay.
 
 AN ODE. 20 
 
 Merrily, merrily, sound the horn, 
 And drive your cares away ; 
 Your coursers mount with the dawning morn. 
 Hark ! hark to the woods, away ! 
 
 Merrily, merrily, onward bound, 
 O'er Exmoor's mossy plain ; 
 The startled deer, and the forward hound, 
 And of youths a gallant train.
 
 21 AN ODE. 
 
 Merrily, merrily, see them ride, 
 Hark forward ! well known cry ! 
 The hills resound, and the valleys wide. 
 Loud echo their quick reply. 
 
 Merrily, merrily, rushing on, 
 They urge their coursers fast ; 
 For now they know, that the deer is blown. 
 By the floating bugle blast.
 
 AN ODE. 21 
 
 Merrily, merrily, now return 
 All on their homeward way, 
 The spoils of the day before them borne, 
 'Neath Cynthia's silv'ry ray. 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 Merrily, merrily, sound the horn. 
 Hark to the woods away ! 
 And ever, as sounds the cheerful horn, 
 Hark ! hark to the woods away ! 
 
 D.
 
 22 AN ODE. 
 
 See, with the toil of the chase opprest, 
 Where Diana's swains have sunk to rest, 
 On their lonely couches sleeping : 
 And see the God of the fitful dream. 
 And his tiny spouse, in the dusky gleam, 
 The web of their slumbers keeping; 
 Behold again ! 
 See Hymens train ! 
 O'er neglected altars weeping !
 
 AN ODE. 23 
 
 But can this be so ? 
 
 Oh no ! Oh no ! 
 For the urchin God of the silver bow, 
 Hath charged his shafts with love : 
 
 Nor shall one remain, 
 
 Of that sleeping train, 
 But the force of his darts shall prove. 
 Hear then, — Oh hear my prayer — 
 Queen of the golden Zone ! 
 
 Venus divinely fair !
 
 24 AN ODE. 
 
 Shed from thy Cytherean throne, 
 Thy choicest influence down ; 
 And deck each Hebe of this western sphere 
 With every blooming gift, thy favored isle can spare ! 
 
 Each grace upon thy sons bestow 
 And keep thy "festive court with us" awhile below ! 
 ' Then, may some Zephyr on its golden wing, 
 An Hymeneal chaplet to each Hebe bring ! 
 
 Hail — to the grove ! 
 
 Where the wood-nymphs love,
 
 AN ODE. 26 
 
 To stray at the fall of even ! 
 
 When the amorous note, 
 
 Of the dove shall float, 
 
 And the fitful cloud. 
 
 Throw a gossamer shroud 
 O'er the dew-fed lamp of heaven ; 
 
 Now from her empyreal throne, 
 Descending-, with her doves unseen 
 The beauteous Paphian Queen,
 
 HG AN ODE. 
 
 Proclaimed them all her own ! 
 
 And, as she moved among, 
 
 The iinblest slumbering throng ; 
 The Son of Maia, with arcadian fire, 
 Swept v/ith his parent touch the seven stringed lyre 
 And, with softest Lydiau measure. 
 Essayed to wake, their souls to pleasure : 
 Whilst gently on the ravished ear, 
 Stole the " music, soft and clear " 
 
 In most aerial minstrelsy.
 
 AN ODi:. 
 
 Nor failed his lyre, 
 Their hearts t'inspire. 
 With thoughts of love and harmony ! 
 
 But with aflfrighted mien, 
 
 In secret bower of evergreen, 
 From couch entwined, of violets blue 
 
 And roses of the brightest hue, 
 Started, the wood-nymphs in dismay. 
 And to Diana's temple sped their rapid way ! 
 Her chaplets they found,
 
 28 AN ODE. 
 
 On the moss covered ground. 
 Thrown carelessly — slightingly — by. 
 But anolher was there. 
 More passing rare ! 
 And Venus herself stood by ! 
 For a conquest' bright. 
 
 She had made that night, 
 On the sons of the western sky. 
 The Avreath was entwined, by the rosy hours, 
 With flowers of love, in Jessamine bowers;
 
 AN ODE. 29 
 
 Not a rose was there but of brightest hue, 
 And whose leaves were moist, with the morniug dew ; 
 Each flower had blown in the myrtle grove. 
 And was culled that morn, by the Queen of love ; 
 So sweet were the flowers, so fresh, and so young ; 
 That they rivalled those, which in Eden sprung : 
 Where the holy seraphs would pause, and gaze 
 On the vernal bloom of that radiant place ; 
 And the ring dove cooed to his willing bride. 
 As each silken knot of the wreath was tied. 
 
 E,
 
 30 AN ODE. 
 
 Not a bee, as it hummed its morning song. 
 Had rifled one sweet, as ii passed along : 
 For the Zephyrs guarded the holy wreath. 
 And perfumed it o'er viith their fragrant breath 
 So redolent sweet that it seemed to be, 
 Th" ambrosial scent of the incense tree ; 
 That bloomed so fair under eastern skies, 
 Aud its sweets diffused over Paradise
 
 AN ODB. 31 
 
 Such was the wreath of love ! 
 That now I ween, 
 (Her bows unstrung) 
 High, o'er the altar of the crescent Queen, 
 
 Was hung ! 
 But now bewildered through the glade. 
 The wood-nymphs fled : 
 For lo ! the messenger of Jove 
 Obedient to the call, 
 Of love,
 
 32 AN ODE. 
 
 Proclaimed the festival ! 
 High string the lyre ! 
 But fan it well, 
 Oh ye Pierian choir, 
 With breezes from Olympus' Mount : 
 That on its chords may- dwell. 
 
 Such tones as fell, 
 From Heavns mysterious fount. 
 In blended harmony : 
 Where first in praise,
 
 AN ODE. 33 
 
 Of beauty's pow'rful rays, 
 The breathing strings of Orpheus' charmed lyre, 
 Poured forth their stream of melody ! 
 And each attendant sphere. 
 Checked its career. 
 Fond ling'ring on the wires that thrilled, 
 Through heav'ns ethereal space. 
 Where its bewitching tones distilled, 
 Such sweet — voluptuous notes — of sacred fire.
 
 34 AN ODE. 
 
 Then — of that brilliant galaxy, 
 Of beauty, in its rich attire ; 
 That beamed so bright. 
 In Devon's halls, on that auspicLous night — 
 Fain, would my adventurous muse aspire 
 To sing with all her ectacy I 
 
 But hold, 
 'Ere yet on wing too bold. 
 My muse hath dared her flight. 
 And vainhj soared.
 
 AN ODE. 35 
 
 Or to Parnassus' height ; 
 Or, every nectared rill, 
 Of Hybla s Mount, 
 
 Explored ! 
 And there, her golden quill, 
 
 A-new, 
 
 Plunged in the richest fount, 
 
 Of its ambrosial dew ! 
 
 For not een then, could fancy lend. 
 Her powers to raise,
 
 36 AN ODE. 
 
 Aud in descriptive verse, to blend 
 An equal tribute to the praise, 
 
 Of that array ! 
 Which, worthy of a loftier song. 
 Blazed through the sportive throng, 
 And, proudly glittered on that festive day. 
 
 Splendid and sumptuous was the scene, 
 
 Through which we roved ; 
 And iu each nook the hand of taste had been,
 
 AN ODE. 37 
 
 Full fairly proved ! 
 But still more fair, 
 As, through the mazy dance 
 Were seen t'advance, 
 The blooming sylphs that were assembled there. 
 So bright they beamed, 
 I ween it seemed. 
 That jealous of Diana's sway ; 
 The Queen of love. 
 That day—
 
 38 AN ODE. 
 
 Besought Imperial Jove, 
 To crown — 
 Her triumph with a splendour all her own, 
 
 For know ! 
 That Venus, from their azure bed, 
 Their brilliant hues to shed, 
 On this fair scene below, 
 Had called the Planets down ! 
 
 dFimjEf*
 
 •^ THE LIBRARY 
 
 3^m UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 E) I QV Santa Barbara 
 
 STACK COLLECTION 
 
 THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE 
 STAMPED BELOW. 
 
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