The Probationary Odes of Jonathan Pindar, Esq A cousin of Peter's, and candidate for the post of Poet Laureat to the C. U. S. In two parts |
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AN Elegiac Ode. |
 | The Probationary Odes of Jonathan Pindar, Esq |  |
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AN Elegiac Ode.
To the memory of Doctor James Hutchinson, of Philadelphia, who fell a victim to the Pestilential Fever that raged there, Sept. 1793,—written on hearing of his Death.
Saw ye the flitting meteor's transient gleam?
Hear'd ye the lapwing's cry, the watch-dog's yell?
The bird of night's portentous scream?
That solemn, plaintive, passing bell?
'Twas Hutchinson's!—yon torpid mass of clay
From bliss no more its heav'nly guest detains;
To regions of eternal day,
He soars, releas'd from earthly chains,
Angel-choirs there shall greet him;
Kindred spirits fly to meet him!
Hear'd ye the lapwing's cry, the watch-dog's yell?
The bird of night's portentous scream?
That solemn, plaintive, passing bell?
'Twas Hutchinson's!—yon torpid mass of clay
From bliss no more its heav'nly guest detains;
To regions of eternal day,
He soars, releas'd from earthly chains,
Angel-choirs there shall greet him;
Kindred spirits fly to meet him!
The patriot firm, who for his country bled,
And bless'd her with his last departing breath,
Shall weave a garland for his head,
And hail him victor over death;
The mangled soldier, o'er whose ghastly wound
He dropt the tender, sympathetic tear,
With eager joy shall gather round,
Still mindful of his tender care;
Songs of gladness shall proclaim
The welcome stranger's worth and name!
And bless'd her with his last departing breath,
Shall weave a garland for his head,
And hail him victor over death;
The mangled soldier, o'er whose ghastly wound
He dropt the tender, sympathetic tear,
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Still mindful of his tender care;
Songs of gladness shall proclaim
The welcome stranger's worth and name!
Spirits releas'd from agonizing pain
Of gout, or gravel, rheumatism, stone,
Mingling with the joyful train,
His healing art, and aid shall own:
Th' abandon'd prey to pest'lence and despair,
Escap'd from recent scenes of worldly woe,
Shall wond'ring haste to meet him there,
Whom late they joy'd to meet below;
Then with him to those mansions soar
Where pain and sorrow are no more.
Of gout, or gravel, rheumatism, stone,
Mingling with the joyful train,
His healing art, and aid shall own:
Th' abandon'd prey to pest'lence and despair,
Escap'd from recent scenes of worldly woe,
Shall wond'ring haste to meet him there,
Whom late they joy'd to meet below;
Then with him to those mansions soar
Where pain and sorrow are no more.
Nor envy, malice, nor detraction, there,
Ten thousand dog-stars' distance dare approach;
Confin'd to their own little sphere
The venom shed in his reproach:
But round him all the virtues, hand in hand,
Smiling benignant on their fav'rite son,
Shall on his spirit shall attend,
As whilst his earthly course he run,
His footsteps guiding towards the throne
Of Life, Light, Truth, th' Eternal One!
Ten thousand dog-stars' distance dare approach;
Confin'd to their own little sphere
The venom shed in his reproach:
But round him all the virtues, hand in hand,
Smiling benignant on their fav'rite son,
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As whilst his earthly course he run,
His footsteps guiding towards the throne
Of Life, Light, Truth, th' Eternal One!
THE END.
Some very illiberal reflections on the Doctor, as a member of the Democratic Society in Philadelphia, appeared a short time before his death. Jonathan is indebted to two gentlemen of respectable characters in the revolutionary army, who were no friends to the Doctor's politics, for the character here given of him.
| The Probationary Odes of Jonathan Pindar, Esq | |