kept tame in
almost all their towns, and particularly at the Hague, of the
arms of which they make a part. The common people of Holland are
said to entertain a superstitious sentiment, that if the whole
species of them should become extinct, they should lose their
liberties. C.

[30] Queen Elizabeth. C.

[31] This tradition is mentioned by several of our old historians. Some
naturalists too have endeavoured to support the probability of
the fact by arguments drawn from the correspondent disposition of
the two opposite coasts. I do not remember that any poetical use
has been hitherto made of it. C.

[32] There is a tradition in the Isle of Man, that a mermaid becoming
enamoured of a young man of extraordinary beauty took an
opportunity of meeting him one day as he walked on the shore, and
opened her passion to him, but was received with a coldness,
occasioned by his horror and surprise at her appearance. This,
however, was so misconstrued by the sea lady, that, in revenge
for his treatment of her, she punished the whole island by
covering it with a mist: so that all who attempted to carry on
any commerce with it, either never arrived at it, but wandered up
and down the sea, or were on a sudden wrecked upon its cliffs.
C.

ODE TO A LADY,

ON THE DEATH OF COLONEL ROSS, IN THE ACTION OF FONTENOY.

Written in May, 1745.

While, lost to all his former mirth,
Britannia's genius bends to earth,
And mourns the fatal day:
While stain'd with blood he strives to tear
Unseemly from his sea-green hair 5
The wreaths of cheerful May:

The thoughts which musing Pity pays,
And fond Remembrance loves to raise,
Your faithful hours attend;
Still Fancy, to herself unkind, 10
Awakes to grief the soften'd mind,
And points the bleeding friend.

By rapid Scheld's descending wave
His country's vows shall bless the grave,
Where'er the youth is laid: 15
That sacred spot the village hind
With every sweetest turf shall bind,
And Peace protect the shade.

Blest youth, regardful of thy doom,
Aerial hands shall build thy tomb, 20
With shadowy trophies crown'd;
Whilst Honour bathed in tear