DANIEL.

Long left unwounded by the grisly foe,

Who sometime pierces all with fatal shaft,

Still on my cheek fresh youth did lively glow,

And at his threatening arrow gaily laught;

Came then my friendly scholar, and we quaffed

From learning’ s spring, its sparkling overflow;

All through the lingering evening’ s charmèd hours,

Delightful fellowship in thought was ours:

If I from Poesy could not all abstain,

He my poor verses oft did quite undress,

New wrapt in words my thought’ s veiled nakedness,

Or kindly clipt my steed’ s luxuriant mane:

’ Twas my delight his searching eye to meet,

In days of genial versing, memories sweet.