Valentine Verses or, Lines of Truth, Love, and Virtue. By the Reverend Richard Cobbold |
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THE
SCUFFLE FOR THE STANDARD. |
 | Valentine Verses |  |
THE SCUFFLE FOR THE STANDARD.
This picture by famed Leonardo de Vince,
Long lost and forgotten, is now to be seen
At the house of the Poet, St. Margaret's Green;
There with Edelink's print, it will hang in my view,
As for years it has hung. On my word it is true.
By the spirit of phrensy o'ertaken, I ken;
For the sake of a standard, a flag on a staff,
Were it not for the horror perchance I might laugh,
With the grin of destruction and gasp of quick breath,
Seem determined to welcome a violent death:
'Tis to me a sad sight, for I never could kill,
Yet believe me, a martyr to truth, ever will
Keep a quiet straight course never fearing to die.
In the scuffle, I know it, through life we must fight,
With ourselves, with our passions, with spirit of might,
For the mighty must struggle for standard of truth,
'Tis the humble will conquer, if zealous in youth.
Go then! fight for thyself, and victorious prove,
Conquer evil with good—be triumphant in Love.
Note. This picture is now supposed to be only known by the print of Edelink. The sketch, as any gentleman may perceive who possesses the print, is not taken from that, but from a painting which has been in the Author's family for some years, and which was obtained under curious circumstances. From internal evidence, there is strong reason to suppose that Edelink's print is not executed from the original picture, but from an inferior copy. There are some strange inconsistencies in his print, not to be found in the painting now in the Author's possession, and certainly not in the original picture wherever it may be, supposing this is not it. The Author would be most highly gratified by a communication with any gentleman upon the subject. At all events, a sight of one superiorly executed, would be sufficient to console him under the idea of his not being the original.
| Valentine Verses | |