Southey was fain to pour forth his exuberant stream over regions
Near and remote: his command was absolute; every subject,
Little or great, he controll'd; in language, variety, fancy,
Richer than all his compeers and wanton but once in dominion;
'Twas when he left the full well that for ages had run by his homestead,
Pushing the brambles aside which encumber'd another up higher,
Letting his bucket go down, and hearing it bump in descending,
Grating against the loose stones 'til it came but half-full from the bottom.
Others abstain'd from the task. Scott wander'd at large over Scotland;
Reckless of Roman and Greek, he chanted the Lay of the Minstrel