ΤΟ I HEED not that my earthly lot That years of love have been forgot NOTE TO "POEMS WRITTEN IN YOUTH.” Private reasons-some of which have reference to the sin of plagiarism, and others to the date of Tennyson's first poemshave induced me, after some hesitation, to republish these, the crude compositions of my earliest boyhood. They are printed verbatim, without alteration from the original edition, the date of which is too remote to be judiciously acknowledged.—E. A. P. His first publication, I believe, was as early as 1827.—ED. ROME. A Hall in a Palace. ALESSANDRA and CASTIGLIONE. Aless. Thou art sad, Castiglione. Cas. Sad!-not I. O, I'm the happiest, happiest man in Rome: * "Politian" was a juvenile production, and is the least meritorious work Poe has left.-ED. Aless. Methinks thou hast a singular way of showing Thy happiness. What ails thee, cousin of mine? Why didst thou sigh so deeply? Cas. Did I sigh? I was not conscious of it. It is a fashion, A silly-a most silly fashion, I have When I am very happy. Did I sigh? (sighing.) Aless. Thou didst. Thou art not well. Thou hast indulged Too much of late, and I am vexed to see it. Late hours and wine, Castiglione,—these Thy looks are haggard: nothing so wears away Cas. (musing) Nothing, fair cousin, nothing-not Wears it away like evil hours and wine. I will amend. Aless. Do it. I would have thee drop Thy riotous company too-fellows low-born Cas. I will drop them. Aless. Thou wilt-thou must! Attend thou also more To thy dress and equipage,-they are over plain For thy lofty rank and fashion: much depends |