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61
WRITTEN IN AN ALBUM.
Oh, who shall describe me this Album of thine!—
'Tis the heart's turnpike-gate, where its minions pay toll;
It is Love's table-d'hote, where her votaries dine—
Of the forces of Friendship the muster-roll!
'Tis the heart's turnpike-gate, where its minions pay toll;
It is Love's table-d'hote, where her votaries dine—
Of the forces of Friendship the muster-roll!
Of the murderer's cairn it is just the reverse—
To that every comer contributes a stone;
But a token of hate is left there, and a curse,
While by what is left here, it is love that is shown!
To that every comer contributes a stone;
But a token of hate is left there, and a curse,
While by what is left here, it is love that is shown!
Here all feelings are found, sad, sober, or quizzical;
Here all tastes, and all sects, and all authors agree;
From romantic and light to the dark metaphysical,
There is room for them all, whatever they be!
Here all tastes, and all sects, and all authors agree;
From romantic and light to the dark metaphysical,
There is room for them all, whatever they be!
Here the stately and orthodox Épiscopalian
Sits peaceably down by his brother dissenting;
And with Chalmers or Irving, comes Sherlock or Paley on;
While Ephraim on Judah no venom is venting.
Sits peaceably down by his brother dissenting;
And with Chalmers or Irving, comes Sherlock or Paley on;
While Ephraim on Judah no venom is venting.
62
Here with spinners of poetry, psalm-spinners soar,
Or try to, alas! though their steeds often stumble;
And Watts comes with Byron, and Doddridge with Moore,
And ‘take up their songs’ without ever a grumble.
Or try to, alas! though their steeds often stumble;
And Watts comes with Byron, and Doddridge with Moore,
And ‘take up their songs’ without ever a grumble.
Here cold Common-Sense for poor Sentiment sickly,
Lays aside most humanely its sneer or its frown;
So the leopard in days of Millennium, quickly
With the kid shall politely and meekly lie down.
Lays aside most humanely its sneer or its frown;
So the leopard in days of Millennium, quickly
With the kid shall politely and meekly lie down.
Here the old poet's lay shines so quaint and so curious,
Like a sweet simple flower that should bloom by itself;
And more modern songs blaze here—extravagant—furious—
Like the nosegays that stare on a kitchen-maid's shelf.
Like a sweet simple flower that should bloom by itself;
And more modern songs blaze here—extravagant—furious—
Like the nosegays that stare on a kitchen-maid's shelf.
Here the aged folks tender both prayers and advice,
And the young ones prate sweetly of feeling and passion;
While here and there glows of description a spice,
From the bard whose effusions are just then in fashion.
And the young ones prate sweetly of feeling and passion;
While here and there glows of description a spice,
From the bard whose effusions are just then in fashion.
Here with crumbs of morality, gayest young ladies
Each other devoutly and tenderly cheer,
And convince us that all for which Albums are made, is
To keep up their courage in virtue's career.
Each other devoutly and tenderly cheer,
And convince us that all for which Albums are made, is
To keep up their courage in virtue's career.
63
And some bring conceits most facetious and pleasant;
Some with saddest of sentiment coo like a pigeon ill—
And some (like the writer who's scribbling at present)
Would, no doubt, if they could, be considered original.
Some with saddest of sentiment coo like a pigeon ill—
And some (like the writer who's scribbling at present)
Would, no doubt, if they could, be considered original.
Some draw, sketch, or paint, to embellish the plan,
Ships, houses, or cattle, men, women, or trees—
They do it, of course, not to show that they can,
But to prove how they long the fair owner to please.
Ships, houses, or cattle, men, women, or trees—
They do it, of course, not to show that they can,
But to prove how they long the fair owner to please.
And all ere they write turn over the pages
With quizzical smile and sarcastic remark;
And hint doubtful things of complexions and ages,
And are still most severe when they're most in the dark.
With quizzical smile and sarcastic remark;
And hint doubtful things of complexions and ages,
And are still most severe when they're most in the dark.
And then from the writing how shrewd are the guesses
What the writer may be, both in body and mind;
If he's steady or gay—how he looks, or she dresses,
With nicest sagacity all is divined.
What the writer may be, both in body and mind;
If he's steady or gay—how he looks, or she dresses,
With nicest sagacity all is divined.
There are some who write stiffly like school-boys in dread
Of the rod of the master—while others more knowing
Will affect a bad hand that can scarcely be read,
A genteel, superior, indifference showing.
Of the rod of the master—while others more knowing
Will affect a bad hand that can scarcely be read,
A genteel, superior, indifference showing.
64
And look at the neat hand of gentle feminitie—
(So pointedly delicate irony should be!)
She who writes so ethereally must be divinity,
Nor less than an angel in petticoats could be!
(So pointedly delicate irony should be!)
She who writes so ethereally must be divinity,
Nor less than an angel in petticoats could be!
But whoe'er to this chaos, than Milton's more motley,
May contribute his mite, should remember this chiefly,
Be it gaily or sadly, or coldly or hotly,
(More wise than this writer) he had better write briefly!
May contribute his mite, should remember this chiefly,
Be it gaily or sadly, or coldly or hotly,
(More wise than this writer) he had better write briefly!
October, 1830.
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