The Poetical Works of Hector MacNeill ... A New Edition, Corrected and Enlarged. In Two Volumes |
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AN ELEGY
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 | The Poetical Works of Hector MacNeill |  |
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AN ELEGY
On the sudden death of a beautiful young boy, in Jamaica, attended by the singular occurrence of a nightingale perching on the tree under which he was interred, and singing sweetly during the funeral service.
WRITTEN IN JAMAICA IN 1788.
Relentless Death!—ah! why so soon
Cut down the flow'ret fair to view!
Pale gleamed the light of yonder moon,
When pest'lence shed her deadly dew !
Cut down the flow'ret fair to view!
Pale gleamed the light of yonder moon,
When pest'lence shed her deadly dew !
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The morn arose serene and clear,
The sun refulgent glowed at noon;
But nought the drooping flower could cheer.—
Ah! wherefore drooped the flower so soon!
The sun refulgent glowed at noon;
But nought the drooping flower could cheer.—
Ah! wherefore drooped the flower so soon!
By yonder tree (his fav'rite shade,
Where late he joyed with sports and play)
They dig his grave; there, lowly laid,
Sleep's Campbell's silent senseless clay!
Where late he joyed with sports and play)
They dig his grave; there, lowly laid,
Sleep's Campbell's silent senseless clay!
Ah! what avails the tear and sigh
That close, loved boy! thy funeral gloom!
The doleful dirge, and frantic cry
Of Afric's mourners round thy tomb !
That close, loved boy! thy funeral gloom!
The doleful dirge, and frantic cry
Of Afric's mourners round thy tomb !
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Ah! what avails!—But cease the strain;
Ye weeping parents, dry the tear.
See! Philomela joins the train,
And chants a requiem o'er his bier.
Ye weeping parents, dry the tear.
See! Philomela joins the train,
And chants a requiem o'er his bier.
Sweetly she warbles, perched on high,
Far from her mate, and haunts of even;
She comes, an herald from the sky,
To greet the cherub soul to heaven!
Far from her mate, and haunts of even;
She comes, an herald from the sky,
To greet the cherub soul to heaven!
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Yet here, should pensive pilgrim stray
At soft'ning eve, or fervent noon,
Here may he heave the sigh, and say,
‘Ah, wherefore droop'd the flower so soon!’
At soft'ning eve, or fervent noon,
Here may he heave the sigh, and say,
‘Ah, wherefore droop'd the flower so soon!’
In Jamaica it is customary, on the death of a white person, for all the domestic negroes to attend the funeral. If the deceased has been a particular favourite, it is usual for the female slaves to raise, after the interment, a funeral song or dirge, over the grave. This consists of loud and dismal lamentations, chiefly expressive of the good qualities of the deceased; such as, ‘O my good massa!’ ‘O my dear massa!’ accompanied with clapping of hands, and violent gesticulations of sorrow.
| The Poetical Works of Hector MacNeill | |