When gloom became familiar to the eye;

When I perceive how others seem to rest,

With every evil rankling in my breast—

Led by example, I put on the man,

Sing off my sighs, and trifle as I can.

"Homer! nay, Pope! (for never will I seek

Applause for learning—nought have I with Greek—)

Gives us the secrets of his pagan hell,

Where ghost with ghost in sad communion dwell;

Where shade meets shade, and round the gloomy meads