Of the vessel you sail'd in, I just will remark
That I ne'er heard before of so curious a bark.
Of gondola, coracle, pirogue, canoe,
I have read very often, as doubtless have you;
Of tho Argo conveying that hero young Jason;
Of the ship moor'd by Trajan in Nemi's deep basin;
Of the galley (in Plutarch you'll find the description)
Which bore along Cydnus the royal Egyptian;
Of that wonderful frigate (see "Curse of Kehama")
Which wafted fair Kailyal to regions of Brama,
And the venturous barks of Columbus and Gama.
But Columbus and Gama to you must resign a
Full half of their fame, since your voyage to China,
(I'm astonish'd no shocking disaster befel,)
In that swift-sailing first-rate—a cocoa-nut shell!
I hope, my dear H., that you touch'd at Loo Choo,
That abode of a people so gentle and true,
Who with arms and with money have nothing to do.
How calm must their lives be! so free from all fears
Of running in debt, or of running on spears!
Oh dear! what an Eden!—a land without money!
It excels e'en the region of milk and of honey,
Or the vale of Cashmere, as described in a book
Full of musk, gems, and roses, and call'd "Lalla Rookh."
But, of all the enjoyments you have, none would e'er be
More valued by me than a chat with Acerbi,
Of whose travels—related in elegant phrases—
I have seen many extracts, and heard many praises,
And have copied (you know I let nothing escape)
His striking account of the frozen North Cape.
I think 'twas in his works I read long ago
(I've not the best memory for dates, as you know,)
Of a warehouse, where sugar and treacle were stored,
Which took fire (I suppose being made but of board)
In the icy domains of some rough northern hero,
Where the cold was some fifty degrees below zero.
Then from every burnt cask as the treacle ran out,
And in streams, just like lava, meander'd about,
You may fancy the curious effect of the weather,
The frost, and the fire, and the treacle together.
When my first for a moment had harden'd my last,
My second burst out, and all melted as fast;
To win their sweet prize long the rivals fought on,
But I quite forget which of the elements won.
But a truce with all joking—I hope you'll excuse me,
Since I know you still love to instruct and amuse me,
For hastily putting a few questions down,
To which answers from you all my wishes will crown;
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