Pen Picture of the Past.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 September 1914, Page 8

Pen Picture of the Past.

LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE

HOW COWPER TOOK THE TRA-

GEDY

Cowper's fine verses on "The Loss of the Royal George" are tolerably well known, but everyone is not so familiar with, the story of their origin. Towards the close of Cowper's life his mmd —as most readers are aware —hung at times on the brink of insanity, and at the time now referred to his ailliction was practically at its height. The morning of the day on which this incident took place was dreary, cold, and dull. A chilling mist which filled the air was succeeded by a drizzling rain, making all nature cheerless. Deeply miserable, as usual, ('owper was hastily pacing his room backwards and forwards in a state of extreme agitation and distress, the darkness and gloominess without augmenting the deeper darkness within him. Me was humming to himself the air of Handel's "March in Scipio," his steps keeping time to the music, his thoughts busy brooding over his own utter wretchedness. l UNTOUCHED BY THE OIiTM TIDINGS. Suddenly his door flew open, and in rushed a lady, holding in her hand an open newspaper, in which she had just been reading an account of the loss of the Royal George. Greatly excited at the news, she exclaimed, "Oh, Mr. ('owper, have you heard of the dreadful accident that has happened ? The Royal George has gone down into the sea .with eight hundred men on board, and every soul has perished !" C'owper, wrapped in his own reflections, paid no attention to either the lady or her story, lj_\it continued to march backwards and forwards, humming the air before mentioned. Who the lady was has not been ascertained. It is not likely that she was one of his intimate acquaintance:;, since at that time his friends were Aery careful not to let him hear of anything likely to disturb his mind, or increase the melancholy that they were so anxious to alleviate. The catastrophe appearing naturally to the lady as a fearful one, she wondered to see him so unmoved. Thinking that perhaps he had not heard what she had told him, she repeated the information in fuller detail, dwelling on the fact that Kempenfelt and his whole crew of eight hundred had gone down. Still the poet took not the slight'st notice, but paced more rapidly round the room, humming his tune more loudly. Hence she determined that he did not intend to listen to her, and left him.

! Nevertheless, Cowper, though he made no sign of understanding the news imparted to him, was deeply affected. The story had reached his mind, though he had not grasped its fullest import. Though he abounded in sympathy for others, , his mind was so occupied of his own misery that at times he could | think of nothing else. He felt ; just now on the verge of despair. THE BOOMING OF A BELL. ! Suddenly, by a coincidence to which we probably owe the poem, ' the bell .of the church near by be- ■ gan to toll for n. fimoral. The unexpected sound recalled him to his senses fully, each stroke as it heamel forth went to his heart like a I sword-thrust. Rousod to a state !of intense excitement, he seized his : pen and rushod to the fireplace, grasping the bell-rope, as if to stop the tolling. Then he sat down and ; gave vent to his feelings by serib- ■ hling the now well-known lines :— j j " Toll for the 1 rave ! | The brave that are no more ! j All sunk beneath the wave Fast by their native shore ! 'Tight hundred of the brave, Whose courage well was tried, Had made the vessel heel, And laid her on her side. A land breeze shook the shrouds, And she was overset. Down went the Royal George And all her,crew complete. Toll for the brave ! " Brave Kempenfeldt is gone ; His last sea fight is fought, I Mis work of glory done. It was not in the battle, No tempest g tl ve the shock, She sprang no fat.-il leak, She ran upon no rock. His sword whs in its sheath, His fingers held the pen. When Keinpenfeldt went down With twice four hundred men. Weigh the vessel up, Once dreaded by our foes, And mingle with our cup The tear that England owes. Her timbers yet are sound, And she may float again, Full charged with England's thunder J And plough the distant main. But Kempenfelt is gone ; His victories are o'er: "••-.. And he and his eight hundred • plough the wave no 'more. It may be noted that the metre <■■!' the verses exactly corresponds with I the rhythm of the "March in Sciopio" alluded t0.—.1. Gladstone (^ravin the "Scotsman." ;