Such as might wile the time disturb’d by my valet’s omission,
I sate me down in a chair, and thus apostrophised Warren.
“Pontiff of modern art! whose name is as noted as mine is,
Noted for talent and skill, and the cardinal virtues of manhood
Receive this tribute of praise from one whose applause is an honour,
I am he who sang of Roderick, the last of the Goths, and
Gothic enough it was, I’m told, in metre and meaning;
Thalaba too was mine, that wild and wondrous effusion,
Madoc and Joan of Arc, and the splendid curse of Kehama;
If I then, the author of these and other miraculous volumes,