Miscellanies in Prose and Verse By Mrs. Catherine Jemmat |
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On hearing the Design of erecting a MONUMENT to the Memory of THOMAS PRIOR, Esq; by Subscription, in the Year 1751.
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 | Miscellanies in Prose and Verse |  |
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On hearing the Design of erecting a MONUMENT to the Memory of THOMAS PRIOR, Esq; by Subscription, in the Year 1751.
'Tis all that goodness left behind can shew,
Or gratitude on worth made blest, bestow;
Departed worth the pillar'd pomp disdains,
The sculptur'd marble, and the heart-felt strains;
Heedless of after fame and frail renown,
Conscious of virtue only, and her crown,
The shrinking trophies in her flight she spurns,
Of earth forgetful, and with seraphs burns.
Or gratitude on worth made blest, bestow;
Departed worth the pillar'd pomp disdains,
The sculptur'd marble, and the heart-felt strains;
Heedless of after fame and frail renown,
Conscious of virtue only, and her crown,
The shrinking trophies in her flight she spurns,
Of earth forgetful, and with seraphs burns.
And yet the fervent vow must still be paid,
The pious off'ring to the patriot shade;
'Tis meet it should: then rear the awful bust,
And consecrate your fame o'er PRIOR's dust.
The pious off'ring to the patriot shade;
'Tis meet it should: then rear the awful bust,
And consecrate your fame o'er PRIOR's dust.
Ye heav'n-touch'd few, whom Wisdom warms to bless
Her sacred schemes, and give her toils success,
Distinguish'd patriots, who have firmly stood,
Th' unshaken pillars of your country's good;
You knew his heart, and felt the social fire,
Which kindl'd in his soul each pure desire
To serve the public, with unweary'd pain;
To know he serv'd it, was his greatest gain.
Her sacred schemes, and give her toils success,
Distinguish'd patriots, who have firmly stood,
Th' unshaken pillars of your country's good;
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Which kindl'd in his soul each pure desire
To serve the public, with unweary'd pain;
To know he serv'd it, was his greatest gain.
Down, down, ye stately monuments of guilt,
On ruin founded, and by rapine built,
Detested witnesses of mischief's power,
Nor longer with upbraiding insults tow'r,
The firm reproach of haughty pride misled,
T'infect the living, and impeach the dead:
Learn hence, ye monarchs that would grasp the globe,
The sceptre's office and the ermin'd robe;
To wield the one for universal good,
Nor stain the other with innoxious blood;
Learn hence the social system, peaceful plan,
And each kind office due from man to man;
Learn hence to live, and let ambition try
The virtuous path he trod, and learn to die.
On ruin founded, and by rapine built,
Detested witnesses of mischief's power,
Nor longer with upbraiding insults tow'r,
The firm reproach of haughty pride misled,
T'infect the living, and impeach the dead:
Learn hence, ye monarchs that would grasp the globe,
The sceptre's office and the ermin'd robe;
To wield the one for universal good,
Nor stain the other with innoxious blood;
Learn hence the social system, peaceful plan,
And each kind office due from man to man;
Learn hence to live, and let ambition try
The virtuous path he trod, and learn to die.
O dear to gratitude, to virtue dear,
For thee, the public groan, the public tear,
Are heard and seen; thy sound they sadly flow,
Th' unceasing marks of unaffected woe;
For thee, the widow'd arts and virtues mourn,
With pale Religion bending o'er thy urn,
Whilst meek Benevolence, with all her train,
In Sorrow's sable robe for thee complain.
For thee, the public groan, the public tear,
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Th' unceasing marks of unaffected woe;
For thee, the widow'd arts and virtues mourn,
With pale Religion bending o'er thy urn,
Whilst meek Benevolence, with all her train,
In Sorrow's sable robe for thee complain.
Here then draw nigh, ye thoughtless, vain, ye proud,
And envy PRIOR in his humble shrowd;
To triumph o'er yourselves, be all your view,
And ev'ry passion to its poize subdue.
And envy PRIOR in his humble shrowd;
To triumph o'er yourselves, be all your view,
And ev'ry passion to its poize subdue.
Not raise the Monument! Forbid it, Shame,
And snatch a people from perpetual blame.
Forbid it, Gratitude; forbid it, Pride,
Nor to his dust be this small mark deny'd.
O vindicate yourselves, he wants it not;
Immortal worth can never be forgot.
And snatch a people from perpetual blame.
Forbid it, Gratitude; forbid it, Pride,
Nor to his dust be this small mark deny'd.
O vindicate yourselves, he wants it not;
Immortal worth can never be forgot.
But, see! the solemn pile begins to rise,
Indecent pomp! before my ravish'd eyes:
To Fancy's view memorial trophies swell,
The sculptur'd marble all his virtues tell.
The patriot's form already seems confess'd,
Half-sunk and leaning on his country's breast,
Whilst BERKLEY's muse prepares th' immortal lore,
And Virtue sighs out—PRIOR is no more.
Indecent pomp! before my ravish'd eyes:
To Fancy's view memorial trophies swell,
The sculptur'd marble all his virtues tell.
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Half-sunk and leaning on his country's breast,
Whilst BERKLEY's muse prepares th' immortal lore,
And Virtue sighs out—PRIOR is no more.
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