Uncrimson'd may thy purity remain ! "Dabbled in blood," shall Factious Fury soil The rose of snow Twin'd with her blushing foe, we spread, You cannot, yourself, think more favourably of those lines, than I do. But how much you have been mistaken! I have heard you called an Orange Bigot; a violent party man; what not? Whatever may be my ignorance of the nature and qualities of mind, I am disposed to hope that calumny is often not material; and that it seldom is immortal. Such, at least, I firmly believe to be the case of panegyric. A man bepraised may strut, and perhaps fret, his hour upon the stage; * Shakspeare. ↑ John, xx. 12. Matt. xxviii. 2, 3. The root of the white lily is vulnerary, or styptic. but ought to reckon upon soon being nothing. For a few months he may play LION, as Bottom wished to do;* but the caprice of public opinion will soon decorate him with an ass's head; and he may find no Titania to fall in love with a reputation thus travestied. But I think I could still farther refute the slanders (some few of the many slanders) of which I have been the object. I could do so, if you could have patience with a few more lilies. Patience! I would say to you, and your flowery Muse, manibus date lilia plenis. * Lion, however, is a part which I have never been desirous of performing. It is contemptible to be made a show of; (if the creature exhibited can help it;) and a Lion fêté is only more respectable than a dancing bear. Fed for a season, upon beef-steak, toast, and hips (not haws,) the Royal Beast is then sent to the De-n or forest,-or, for want of one, the bog; until called upon anew, to "ramp;" or "dandle" a favourite opinion; and "roar you as gently," (for fear of frightening a Sporting, the lion ramp'd; and in his paw, Milton. I suspect that he who performs Lion, instead of-or while-faring as I have above supposed, may be found to have been feeding upon Moonshine; of which probably Bottom was not aware, when he was so desirous of monopolizing both parts. Moonshine, if my memory serve me, was one of the characters in that drama. Then take, and agreez what follows TO THE LILIES. Rich emblem of a Royal Friend Fair, milk-white flower, who softly shine, By Faction's drug uncurdled, and unblotted.-- Sweet as thy breath, and as thy blossom pure. Above, below, the silver flower, Twined with its golden foe be spread; And furnish, to the festal hour, A chaplet for the Patriot's head. the ladies,)" as a sucking dove.". -Which is the least alluring, the den-ing or the di-ning portion of such a life?— What lion of good taste could wish to be ever called upon to "roar again?" Would he not be rather tempted to say, a bas La Renommée ? * William the Third was, in his dispositions, a tolerant Prince. The first of these stanzas is addressed to the Orange Lily; the second to the white one. † All but the flower. If your's be not "the golden mean,” it is a mean, between the golden and the silver flower. Do you recollect your lines, entitled CounTRY? Les voici. COUNTRY. Eirinn go brah! Dear Erin, my Country, I love thee well; Better, oh better than words can tell! Ere civil gore moisten, or tyrant enslave, May the verdure that brightens thee, cover my grave! To your gales may the breath they have lent me, be given! And Death, for your rights, waft my spirit to heaven! "civil gore We have unfortunately seen moisten :"* the question is, whether we have seen "tyrant enslave.” Be this as it may, I feel tempted, by your encouragement, to extend to greater length, the refutation of certain slanders, to which I have been adverting. Yield at once to the temptation. You will be sure to have done so, before the conclusion * In 1798. of our appendix; and why prorogue the vindicatory recital until then? I yield to your desire, in all the facility of authorship. ORANGE AND GREEN. A cheer for the banner of green, In our every field it is seen : * What assassin would change it to red? Hence, herald of woe! civil war ! Nor to ruby our emerald turn : All, all, thy grim aspect abhor, With a true love for country, who burn. No! quarter our standard of green : Let the hues of rich orange be there; And the colours of Derry be seen, Where the verdures of Erin appear. We would ask you to be our Ally; To a brother, for kindness we flee; Shall an Irishman spurn and enslave? In allusion to the verdure of Ireland. |