ΤΟ J. H. REYNOLDS, Esq. MY DEAR REYNOLDS, You will remember " Lycus." It was written in the pleasant spring-time of our friendship, and I am glad to maintain that association, by connecting your name with the Poem. It will gratify me to find that you regard it with the old partiality for the writings of each other, which prevailed in those days. For my own sake, I must regret that your pen goes now into far other records than those which used to delight me. Your true Friend and Brother, T. HOOD. LYCUS, THE CENTAUR. FROM AN UNROLLED MANUSCRIPT OF APOLLONIUS CURIUS, THE ARGUMENT. Lycus, detained by Circe in her magical dominion, is beloved by a Water Nymph. who desiring to render him immortal, has recourse to the Sorceress. Circe gives ber an incantation to pronounce, which should turn Lycus into a horse; but the horrible effect of the charm causing her to break off in the midst, he becomes a Centaur. WHO hath ever been lured and bound by a spell That the earth where I trod, and the cave where I bedded, Like a first taste of blood, lest as water I quaff'd Swift poison, and never should breathe from the draught,— When he pledged her, and Fate closed his eyes in the cup. That my soul starting up, beat its wings in my throat, There I stood without stir, yet how willing to flee, As if rooted and horror-turn'd into a tree,Oh! for innocent death,—and to suddenly win it, I drank of the stream, but no poison was in it; I plunged in its waters, but ere I could sink, Some invisible fate pull'd me back to the brink; I sprang from the rock, from its pinnacle height, But fell on the grass with a grasshopper's flight; I ran at my fears-they were fears and no more, For the bear would not mangle my limbs, nor the boar, But moan'd,-all their brutalized flesh could not smother The horrible truth,—we were kin to each other! |