2418. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [9 May 1814]

2418. Robert Southey to Grosvenor Charles Bedford, [9 May 1814]⁠* 

My dear G.

Here is a choice poem for you, – the production of a man who keeps a Billiard Table at Carlisle, [1]  & who having a genius for poetry & not daring to show his productions to his wife & daughters has pitched upon Calvert for his confidant. I give it to you literatim, & shall content myself with desiring you not to imagine that from the lyrical abruptness of the beginning, that the poem is imperfect. It is a whole, & perfect in its kind.

Not forgetting Lord Wellington
When he to Beaudeux came,
The most noble Lord was received
With great Honour to his name.
The Bourbon cry caled aloud so high
That it made Paris shake & trimble.
May we all se that shock to be
And make Bonuapart to trimble.
Rise Paris & let us se
Shake off that yoke for Liberty.
There is a Shake now begun,
Tear it up & pull it down!
May we all united be
In this most noble cause,
To protect our King
Our Country & our Laws.
Lewis haste, heare is a call,
Paris crie is one & all
Blucher by his Great power
Will protect the every hour.
May France & Rejoice & Sing
Long Life to Lewis, our King.
We Britons will Rejoice
To se Lewis made their choice

_______


Notes

* Endorsement: May 9. 1814
MS: Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 25. AL; 2p.
Previously published: Charles Cuthbert Southey (ed.), Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, 6 vols (London, 1849–1850), IV, pp. 75–76. BACK

[1] Unidentified beyond the information given here. BACK

People mentioned

Calvert, William (1771–1829) (mentioned 1 time)
Wellesley, Arthur (1769–1852) (mentioned 1 time)