West Country Poets

H. DART (fl. 1830)

One of the first books printed and published at Torquay (by E. COCKREM) was a little volume of verse entitled 'The Swallow's Repast: a Series of Poems,' by H. DART. 1830.  We know nothing of the author, nor can we gtrace any other works from his pen; but we venture to quote one of the poems from his little book, which has a decided West-Country flavour:

ON THE CASTLE OF BERRY-POMEROY

Musing, I gaze with a wistful eye
  On these mould'ring moss-clad towers,
Which rise as props to the broad dark sky,
  Where the angry tempest lowers;
Loud the whirlwind moand through the naked halls,
And the bat scarecely sleeps in the trembling walls.

[. . .  six more verses in the same vein . . .]

Transcribed by Sandra Windeatt from: Wright, W.H.K., (1896) West-Country Poets:  Their Lives and Works. London: Elliot Stock, pp.141-142.