To J. W. CROKER, Esq.
[_]
Just after I had been introduced to him by Davies Gilbert, at Pearce's Hotel, in 1820.
O thou, whose talents over scutchion'd birth,
A splendour, to adorn thy lineage, shed—
(Though Devon calls thy hoary fathers forth,
High-helm'd, and glories in transmitted worth)
Thou, from whose patriot flame by honour fed,
Scared Faction shrinks, and hides its viperous head,
Accept this strain, unpolish'd yet sincere!
Nor less to thee the Muse her tribute brings,
For that thy fancy, midst the effulgent sphere
Of poesy, unfolds her genial wings—
For that thy heart is conscious to the tear
That trembling starts to taste and feeling dear!
Whilst to proud notes, to swell the pomp of Kings,
Echoeing o'er vale and hill, thy “Talavera” rings!