 | Metrical Effusions |  |
201
AN ELEGY.
'Twas at the silent hour when Fancy dreams
Of what delights, or what distracts the mind;
Promotes or disappoints the worldly schemes
Of mortals to their heavenly interest blind;
Of what delights, or what distracts the mind;
Promotes or disappoints the worldly schemes
Of mortals to their heavenly interest blind;
She bore me far, with instantaneous flight,
Through torrid regions of the eastern sky;
Brought objects new before my wondering sight,
And absent friends to my remembrance nigh.
Through torrid regions of the eastern sky;
Brought objects new before my wondering sight,
And absent friends to my remembrance nigh.
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Awhile forgetful of my native shore
I leap'd with joy on India's burning sand,
As if of future happiness my store
Lay ready there, and that were fairy land.
I leap'd with joy on India's burning sand,
As if of future happiness my store
Lay ready there, and that were fairy land.
I heard the pestilential breezes sigh
Through spicy groves with blossoms ever gay,
And every object that entic'd my eye
Seem'd to betoken one eternal May.
Through spicy groves with blossoms ever gay,
And every object that entic'd my eye
Seem'd to betoken one eternal May.
But while I gaz'd, a melancholy band
With solemn step and slow approach'd the spot,
Whose silence told me that the mighty hand
Of Death had fix'd another victim's lot.
With solemn step and slow approach'd the spot,
Whose silence told me that the mighty hand
Of Death had fix'd another victim's lot.
The sable vestments, and the friendly tear
That many a downcast eye in sorrow shed,
Plainly bespoke the soul departed dear
To those from whom it had so lately fled.
That many a downcast eye in sorrow shed,
Plainly bespoke the soul departed dear
To those from whom it had so lately fled.
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The crowd retir'd; instinctively I sought
The place wherein the poor remains were laid;
And contemplation to my memory brought
Those once belov'd who nature's debt had paid.
The place wherein the poor remains were laid;
And contemplation to my memory brought
Those once belov'd who nature's debt had paid.
But, while I mourn'd, on my attentive ear
Faint accents fell, low murmuring from above,
Some guardian spirit's voice to calm my fear,
And soothe my sorrowing heart with strains of love.
Faint accents fell, low murmuring from above,
Some guardian spirit's voice to calm my fear,
And soothe my sorrowing heart with strains of love.
Stranger! forbear. Suppress the rising sigh,
Nor idly thus bewail the slumbering dead;
Go number rather all the hours that fly
In quick succession o'er thy troubled head.
Nor idly thus bewail the slumbering dead;
Go number rather all the hours that fly
In quick succession o'er thy troubled head.
What though the youth who silent rests below,
Has prematurely met his earthly doom;
What though his generous breast no more shall glow
With love, nor friendship call the wand'rer home:
Has prematurely met his earthly doom;
What though his generous breast no more shall glow
With love, nor friendship call the wand'rer home:
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Yet the same hour which summons from their graves
His mould'ring kindred on Britannia's shore,
And the same trump, resounding o'er the waves,
Shall bid the Indian dead to sleep no more.
His mould'ring kindred on Britannia's shore,
And the same trump, resounding o'er the waves,
Shall bid the Indian dead to sleep no more.
And say, when summon'd to the realms on high,
If to the soul eternal bliss be given;
What boots it where we heave our parting sigh?
“Or whence the soul triumphant springs to heaven?”
If to the soul eternal bliss be given;
What boots it where we heave our parting sigh?
“Or whence the soul triumphant springs to heaven?”
When Howard's spirit, from Tartarian plains,
Wing'd its glad flight to virtue's blest abode,
Seraphic harps awoke celestial strains,
Attendant angels guided it to God.
Wing'd its glad flight to virtue's blest abode,
Seraphic harps awoke celestial strains,
Attendant angels guided it to God.
Mourn not the virtuous dead; the living claim
Far more than they the pensive, friendly tear;
Be it o'er suffering innocence thy aim
To shed the balm of sympathy sincere.
Far more than they the pensive, friendly tear;
Be it o'er suffering innocence thy aim
To shed the balm of sympathy sincere.
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Go teach the maid, who mourns in silent grief
Fraternal ties by death's stern mandate broke,
To seek in resignation for relief,
And bow submissive to the afflictive stroke.
Fraternal ties by death's stern mandate broke,
To seek in resignation for relief,
And bow submissive to the afflictive stroke.
Teach her to add to every winning grace,
Which art and nature lavishly bestow;
That greatest charm, which time can ne'er efface,
Humble devotion's animating glow.
Which art and nature lavishly bestow;
That greatest charm, which time can ne'er efface,
Humble devotion's animating glow.
Bid her by revelation's light explore
Pleasures remote, and joys beyond the tomb.
Then may exulting faith triumphant soar
Where heavenly peace shall smile, and bliss immortal bloom.
Pleasures remote, and joys beyond the tomb.
Then may exulting faith triumphant soar
Where heavenly peace shall smile, and bliss immortal bloom.
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