My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays

With all of nature's gift, and fortune's claim,
A soul of honour, and a life of fame;
A warrior-chief in victory's field renowned,
A statesman with the wreath of virtue crowned—
Such, Knox, wert thou! Shall truth's immortal strain,
Recall thy deeds, and plead their worth in vain!
Sacred and sainted mid yon radiant sky,
In vain shall friendship breathe her holiest sigh?

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Where is that pity known thy life to share,
Softening the beams by glory blazoned there.
Lost like thy form, with that unconscious grown,
Of all thy fine affections called their own!
Ne'er shall that smile its speaking charm impart,
To win the angered passions from the heart:
No more that voice like melting music flow,
Sweet in its sadness o'er another's woe.
But round thy tomb despair will live to weep,
Cold as the cearments of thy marble sleep.

Yet wert thou blest!—ere age with chill delay
Quenched of the fervid mind its sacred ray—
Heaven called thee hence—nor nature's late decline,
Saw thy full lustred fame forbear to shine.
Called thee with patriot spirits earth-approved,
With heroes by the Queen of Ocean loved.
While on that world of waters, victory gave,
Immortal Nelson gained a glorious grave.
When Pitt, the soul of Albion, reached the skies,
And saw the RIVAL OF HIS GREATNESS rise.
Fox, loved of fame, an empire's guide and boast,
His voice sublime mid wondering plaudits lost.
These, like thyself—for God-like deeds admired,
In the ripe Autumn of their years expired.
Hence shall each kindred genius blend with thine,
And mingling in collected radiance shine.

Honoured in life, in death to memory dear,
Not hopeless falls the tributary tear.
For what is death, but life's beginning hour,
The poor man's glory, and the good man's power;
Replete with every bliss we taste below,
Source of the hope we feel, the truth we know.
Then not for thee, BLESSED SHADE! the grief be given;
For thee, beloved on earth—approved in heaven,

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Thy cherished worth shall still retain the power,
To soothe the lonely—bless the social hour,
And thy remembered virtues light the gloom
That death's deep night has gathered o'er thy tomb,

University of Virginia Library

MONODY,

TO THE MEMORY OF GENERAL HENRY KNOX, WHO DIED IN OCTOBER, 1806. The year that deprived his family, his friends and his country of the society, the virtues, and the services of the heroic and amiable Knox; the three great Luminaries of the Elder World were likewise extinguished.

TO THE MEMORY OF GENERAL HENRY KNOX, WHO DIED IN OCTOBER, 1806.

The year that deprived his family, his friends and his country of the society, the virtues, and the services of the heroic and amiable Knox; the three great Luminaries of the Elder World were likewise extinguished.