ON THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ROYAL EXCHANGE BY FIRE 135 LINES ON HEARING OF AN INFANT, DURING WEANING, BEING FOUND IN ITS NURSERY SLEEPING ON ITS MOTHER’S PICTURE 139 THOUGHTS ON SOLITARINESS 143 THE WRECK 149 THE WAILING SPIRIT OF THE “ROUND-DOWN CLIFF” 151 ON READING WORDSWORTH’S BEAUTIFUL LINES ON GRACE DARLING 155 THE EMIGRANTS 158 LINES ON THE PURSUITS OF GENIUS AND LEARNING 162 CORN FIELDS 165 THE APPROACH 168 ON MY NEW-BORN SON 170 FIRESIDE MUSINGS 172 AN ADDRESS TO THE DAISY 174 I’VE BEEN A-MUSING CANTO I. ARGUMENT. Exordium--The Palace of Fantasy--Sir Herald described--His Address to the crowd assembled by proclamation--Prepares to lead them to the interior of the building--Its outward appearance--On their entry are first conducted by Sir Page to be suitably attired--A description of his person--Admitted to the Saloon--Its gorgeousness--Its walls of tapestry--The Druid--The Belted Knight and Merry Woodsman--The Caravan--A Scene on the Ganges--Mount Helicon--The Promontory and Prospect--The expected Interview--Dan Fantasy--His lofty State--Attendants and Recreation--The audience announced--The Populace addressed--The Bard appointed as their Conductor to the various wonders of the place--A Description of the Poet, who led them by a subterranean way--The Beautiful Bay--Treasures of the Deep--The hollow-way and disembowelled Earth--The Cavern--The Grotto--Naiads of Brook and Stream--Their Occupation--The object made known--Their further Progress--The View obtained--The Intent--Mountain Scenery--The Vale of Enna. THE PALACE OF FANTASY. CANTO I. I. O child of earth, who treads this mortal life With weary steps, and turmoil hard to bear, Forego, if e’er ye can, your care, and strife, The sigh oppressive, and the trickling tear; A truce for once to every anxious fear, Let Fancy brighten up the passing hour; Fain would she lead you in her flight’s career, From noyance free, and cloud seen dark to low’r, To spend your pleasant time ’neath her enchanting bow’r. II.