The works of Lord Byron A new, revised and enlarged edition, with illustrations. Edited by Ernest Hartley Coleridge and R. E. Prothero |
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 | The works of Lord Byron |  |
Behold—Ye Tarts!—one moment spare the text!—
Hayley's last work, and worst—until his next;
Whether he spin poor couplets into plays,
Or damn the dead with purgatorial praise,
His style in youth or age is still the same,
For ever feeble and for ever tame.
Triumphant first see “Temper's Triumphs” shine!
At least I'm sure they triumphed over mine.
Of “Music's Triumphs,” all who read may swear
That luckless Music never triumph'd there.
Hayley's last work, and worst—until his next;
Whether he spin poor couplets into plays,
Or damn the dead with purgatorial praise,
322
For ever feeble and for ever tame.
Triumphant first see “Temper's Triumphs” shine!
At least I'm sure they triumphed over mine.
Of “Music's Triumphs,” all who read may swear
That luckless Music never triumph'd there.
Hayley's two most notorious verse productions are Triumphs of Temper and The Triumph of Music. He has also written much Comedy in rhyme, Epistles, etc., etc. As he is rather an elegant writer of notes and biography, let us recommend Pope's advice to Wycherley to Mr. H.'s consideration, viz., “to convert poetry into prose,” which may be easily done by taking away the final syllable of each couplet.
| The works of Lord Byron | |