The poetical wanderer containing, dissertations On the early poetry of Greece, On tragic poetry, and on the power Of noble actions on the mind. To which are added, several poems |
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Lines written on seeing the Representation of a City in Ruins.
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 | The poetical wanderer |  |
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Lines written on seeing the Representation of a City in Ruins.
This lonely battlement, this fighting hall,
These scatter'd fragments and this mould'ring wall,
Thro' which the tempest pours its solemn sound,
And pensive ivy folds its wreaths around.
Mark the drear spot that once a city spread,
Where the tall column rear'd its haughty head;
Where happiness once strung her syren song.
And splendor roll'd its dazzling pomp along,
Where regal pride sat smiling on his throne
And wisdom, valor, soft-ey'd beauty shone.
These scatter'd fragments and this mould'ring wall,
Thro' which the tempest pours its solemn sound,
And pensive ivy folds its wreaths around.
Mark the drear spot that once a city spread,
Where the tall column rear'd its haughty head;
Where happiness once strung her syren song.
And splendor roll'd its dazzling pomp along,
Where regal pride sat smiling on his throne
And wisdom, valor, soft-ey'd beauty shone.
How chang'd the scene! all these are past away,
Pride, pomp and grandeur moulder in decay;
Mirth's voice is hush'd and o'er the silent plain,
A fearful horror holds its Gothic reign;
Dull melancholy strikes its sleepy string
And superstition spreads her raven wing.
The moon the empress of the gloomy night,
Looks down with sorrow on the tragic sight,
While mournful wandering her eccentric way
She lights the ruins with her trembling ray;
The bird of night espies her grateful beam
And from some crevice flings his hallow scream.
Pride, pomp and grandeur moulder in decay;
Mirth's voice is hush'd and o'er the silent plain,
A fearful horror holds its Gothic reign;
Dull melancholy strikes its sleepy string
And superstition spreads her raven wing.
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Looks down with sorrow on the tragic sight,
While mournful wandering her eccentric way
She lights the ruins with her trembling ray;
The bird of night espies her grateful beam
And from some crevice flings his hallow scream.
Approach proud man, behold this fallen state,
Learn human grandeur, and the word of fate!
“All earthly scenes successive pass away
“All earthly glory hastens to decay!”
Learn human grandeur, and the word of fate!
“All earthly scenes successive pass away
“All earthly glory hastens to decay!”
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