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78
ELEGY,
On visiting the grave of Ebenezer Smith, Esq. in the south parish of New-Marlborough, Berkshire.
Come hither, every unhanged knave!
Exult your utmost here;
Come Folly's stupid, willing slave!
Villains, draw near!
Justice is dead and in the grave—
You need not fear!
Exult your utmost here;
Come Folly's stupid, willing slave!
Villains, draw near!
Justice is dead and in the grave—
You need not fear!
Here, Truth, a weeping pilgrim be!
Come, Honor, Wisdom, Worth!
And here, O smiling Pleasantry,
Forget thy mirth!
A favored one of all of ye
Sleeps in the earth.
Come, Honor, Wisdom, Worth!
And here, O smiling Pleasantry,
Forget thy mirth!
A favored one of all of ye
Sleeps in the earth.
Come hither, heavy-burthened Want,
And breathe thy tale of wo!
Thy scalding tears without restraint
Shall freely flow;
For he who heard thy sad complaint
Slumbers below.
And breathe thy tale of wo!
Thy scalding tears without restraint
Shall freely flow;
For he who heard thy sad complaint
Slumbers below.
Here Poverty's lone widow weeps,
And Sorrow's orphans come.
Now that your kind reliever sleeps
In his long home,
No other earthly guardian keeps
Avert your doom.
And Sorrow's orphans come.
Now that your kind reliever sleeps
In his long home,
No other earthly guardian keeps
Avert your doom.
Sons of unkind Misfortune, mourn!
Your heavy loss deplore;
Did he who lies here ever spurn
You from his door?
Alas! that from beyond this bourn
He comes no more!
Your heavy loss deplore;
Did he who lies here ever spurn
You from his door?
79
He comes no more!
Arouse, ye patriot sons of arms!
Rally around this grave;
No more awaked by war's alarms,
Here lies a brave,
Who left his own domestic charms
Your homes to save.
Rally around this grave;
No more awaked by war's alarms,
Here lies a brave,
Who left his own domestic charms
Your homes to save.
Turn, infidel, that passest by!
Thy hapless hearing lend;
Here loud a warning voice doth cry—
To it attend!
Pray that like good men when they die
May be your end.
Thy hapless hearing lend;
Here loud a warning voice doth cry—
To it attend!
Pray that like good men when they die
May be your end.
Christian believer, hither stray
And read this sculptured stone;
A walker in the “narrow way,”
Was this just one.
How sweet at eve to rest when day
And toil are gone!
And read this sculptured stone;
A walker in the “narrow way,”
Was this just one.
How sweet at eve to rest when day
And toil are gone!
Ye saints in Heaven above, rejoice!
Rank'd in your solemn choir,
Mingles the noble, well-tuned voice
Of our grandsire;
And thankfully I'll bide his choice
For me a lyre!
Rank'd in your solemn choir,
Mingles the noble, well-tuned voice
Of our grandsire;
And thankfully I'll bide his choice
For me a lyre!
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