S erenely bright thy life’s pure stream did glide, O n sweet romantic Derwentwater’s side. U nder great Skiddaw—there, in Epic lays, T hou dream’dst a poet’s dreams of olden days, H ow Madoc wandered o’er the Atlantic wave, E astern Kehama, Roderic the brave, Y ears cannot from our fondest memory lave. MACAULAY. M asterly critic! in whose brilliant style A nd rich historic coloring breathes again— C lothed in most picturesque costume the while— A ll the dim past, with all its bustling train. U nder this vivid, eloquent painting, see L ife given anew to our old history’s page; A nd in thy stirring ballad poetry, Y outh’s dreams of ancient Rome once more our minds engage. OLIVER’S IMPROMPTU. Oliver, a sailor and patriot, with a merited reputation for extempore rhyming, while on a visit to his cousin Benedict Arnold, after the war, was asked by the latter to amuse a party of English officers with some extemporaneous effusion, whereupon he stood up and repeated the following Ernulphus curse, which would have satisfied Dr. Slop[4] himself:— B orn for a curse to virtue and mankind, E arth’s broadest realm ne’er knew so black a mind. N ight’s sable veil your crimes can never hide, E ach one so great, ’twould glut historic tide. D efunct, your cursed memory will live I n all the glare that infamy can give. C urses of ages will attend your name, T raitors alone will glory in your shame. A lmighty vengeance sternly waits to roll R ivers of sulphur on your treacherous soul: N ature looks shuddering back with conscious dread O n such a tarnished blot as she has made. L et hell receive you, riveted in chains, D oomed to the hottest focus of its flames. Footnote 4: Tristram Shandy. ALLITERATIVE ACROSTIC. The following alliterative acrostic is a gem in its way. Miss Kitty Stephens was the celebrated London vocalist, and is now the Dowager Countess of Essex:— S he sings so soft, so sweet, so soothing still T hat to the tone ten thousand thoughts there thrill; E lysian ecstasies enchant each ear— P leasure’s pure pinions poise—prince, peasant, peer, H ushing high hymns, Heaven hears her harmony,— E arth’s envy ends; enthralled each ear, each eye; N umbers need ninefold nerve, or nearly name, S oul-stirring §Stephens’§ skill, sure seraphs sing the same. CHRONOGRAMMATIC PASQUINADE. On the election of Pope Leo X., in 1440, the following satirical acrostic appeared, to mark the date M C C C C X L. Multi Cœci Cardinales Creaverunt Cœcum Decimum (X) Leonem. MONASTIC VERSE.