Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 1.djvu/356

314 Since startled Metre fled before thy face,

Well wert thou doomed the last of all thy race!

Well might triumphant Genii bear thee hence,

Illustrious conqueror of common sense!

Now, last and greatest, Madoc spreads his sails,

Cacique in Mexico, and Prince in Wales;

Tells us strange tales, as other travellers do,

More old than Mandeville's, and not so true.

Oh, ! ! cease thy varied song!

A bard may chaunt too often and too long:

As thou art strong in verse, in mercy, spare!

A fourth, alas! were more than we could bear.

But if, in spite of all the world can say,

Thou still wilt verseward plod thy weary way;