He had many correspondents among classmates
and friends. Sometimes he was stimulated to put
his thoughts into rhyme by some poetical epistle
he received. One such was from Benjamin Tallmadge,
then in Wethersfield.

Tallmadge had apologized for his muse and Hale,
in pure boyish fun, with a fine disregard of whether
he was invoking the muse or mounting Pegasus,
replied as follows:

_____"But here, I think you're wrong, to blame
_____Your gen'rous muse and call her lame,
_____For when arriv'd no mark was found
_____Of weakness, lameness, sprain or wound."

Then, invoking her himself, he describes her as
if she were indeed the winged steed,

_____"With me in charge (a grievous load!)
_____Along the way she lately trode,
_____In all, she gave no fear or pain,
_____Unless, at times, to hold the rein."

At last, on his supposed arrival at Wethersfield,
he invites Tallmadge's judgment on the appearance
of the equine muse, thus:

_____'Now judge, unless entirely sound
_____If she could bear me such a round.
_____It's certain then your muse is heal'd,
_____Or else, came sound from Weathersfield."

[[31]]

p030 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p031w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p032

v?