Two Autograph drafts of a long poem by Arthur Benoni Evans (later Professor of Classics and History at Sandhurst), titled 'Lines [Verses] on the Death of the Princess Charlotte'. Both with corrections and emendations, and one signed 'A. B. Evans'.

Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only child of the Prince Regent, died in 1817 at the age of 21. Many poems of mourning were published, but whether Evans's was among them is uncertain. Both drafts are in good condition, on aged paper; the first with short closed tears to the spine. DRAFT ONE (the earlier?): Title: 'Verse on the Death of the Princess Charlotte', altered from 'Threnodia Augustalis, Odes on the Death of the Princess Charlotte'. (The present poem bears no resemblance to 'Threnodia Augustalis: or, The Wreath of Melpomene for the Tomb of Charlotte Augusta', published by Hatchard in 1817.) On paper watermarked 'J WHATMAN | 1816'. 11pp., 4to. 161 lines of verse, and two footnotes. With a few emendations. The title-page carries a biblical quotation and the following presentation: 'Miss A. Dickenson - | With the Author's kind regards & compliments.' The poem is divided into nine sections, with the first beginning 'From Shannon's lovely waters to the Nore, | Bright o'er a realm of liberty & peace, | A prouder dawn ne'er blushed on Britain's shore. | Heaven, that had stored her garners with increase, | [...]'. The last section ends in a better vein: 'Accursed love of change, & wicked lore | That would destroy to build no more, | And infidelity, that bathes his hands in gore. | Lest piteous heaven know not to relent, | But make thee thine own punishment, | Whelming in civil feud, & hopeless fate, | The wise vainglorious, & the godless great.' DRAFT TWO (the later?): Title: 'Lines [altered from 'Odes'] on the death of the Princess Charlotte'. On paper watermarked 'J BUDGEN | 1818'. 11pp., small 4to. Stitched. The title page carries a motto from Euripides in the original Greek, some biographical information about Princess Charlotte, and Evans's signature 'A. B. Evans'. In the first line 'lovely' is deleted and 'holy' inserted. With emendations to almost every page.Both items are in good condition, on aged paper; the first version with short closed tears to the spine. DRAFT ONE (the earlier?): Title: 'Verse on the Death of the Princess Charlotte', altered from 'Threnodia Augustalis, Odes on the Death of the Princess Charlotte'. On paper watermarked 'J WHATMAN | 1816'. 11pp., 4to. 161 lines of verse, and two footnotes. With a few emendations. The title-page carries a biblical quotation and the following presentation: 'Miss A. Dickenson - | With the Author's kind regards & compliments.' The poem is divided into nine sections, with the first beginning 'From Shannon's lovely waters to the Nore, | Bright o'er a realm of liberty & peace, | A prouder dawn ne'er blushed on Britain's shore. | Heaven, that had stored her garners with increase, | [...]'. The last section ends in a better vein: 'Accursed love of change, & wicked lore | That would destroy to build no more, | And infidelity, that bathes his hands in gore. | Lest piteous heaven know not to relent, | But make thee thine own punishment, | Whelming in civil feud, & hopeless fate, | The wise vainglorious, & the godless great.' DRAFT TWO (the later?): Title: 'Lines [altered from 'Odes'] on the death of the Princess Charlotte'. On paper watermarked 'J BUDGEN | 1818'. 11pp., small 4to. Stitched. The title page carries a motto from Euripides in the original Greek, some biographical information about Princess Charlotte, and Evans's signature 'A. B. Evans'. In the first line 'lovely' is deleted and 'holy' inserted. With emendations to almost every page.