Melodies, duets, trios, songs, and ballads, pastoral, amatory, sentimental, patriotic, religious, and miscellaneous ::

Patrons of worth—whose presence oft has graced
The mental banquet here prepared for taste;
But whose compassion led you here to-night,
To make affliction's burthen sit more light—
Deign to accept—'tis virtue's sweetest food,
The widow's thanks—the orphan's gratitude.

No visage, wet with artificial tears,
No bosom, shook with counterfeited fears—
No feign'd affliction—no fictitious grief,
Now claim, from sympathizing hearts, relief.
The tears, now shed, from real fountains spring,—
The purest tribute gratitude can bring;
The sighs now breathed, to Mercy's footstool bear,
For you—and you—the widow's grateful prayer,
The sweetest incense that to heaven ascends,
To call down blessings on the orphan's friends.
And the reward is yours—for sure, to-night,
The happiest dreams will on your slumbers light:
Fancy will paint a family of grief
Receiving, from your generous hands, relief;
And smiles shall greet you, from the humid eye
Which your benevolence alone could dry.

248

But yet—so well I know each generous heart,—
You think this but a debt, discharged in part—
A payment, to the offspring and the wife
Of one who served you faithfully thro' life;
Whose talents, labours, time—were all combined
To please the fancy and improve the mind.

Whether as monarch of these mimic realms,
Or peasant, 'mid our canvas oaks and elms,—
The hoary veteran, or the beardless lad—
The lover happy—or, the tyrant mad!—
In every character—or gay or grave—
You can attest the pleasure that he gave.
On life's great stage, he also play'd his part,
Cheered by the plaudits of an honest heart;
As husband, father, friend—his business ran—
The citizen—the patriot—the man!
In all, he acted well—yet, 'tis confess'd,
One scene eclipsed in splendour all the rest:
When hapless Richmond, on one funeral pyre,
Saw beauty, talents, worth, and wealth, expire—
When death abrupt on pleasure's precincts broke,
And held his carnival 'mid flames and smoke;
When shrieks of madness and despair, combined
To freeze the blood, and agonize the mind—
He stood undaunted, 'mid the unequal strife,
Encountering death, to save another's life!
Tho' blazing ruin revels o'er his head,
Pouring a tempest on the quick and dead—

249

Tho' thousand forked tongues of flame demand
Their rescued victims from his daring hand—
He still remains, the dreadful scene to brave,
Till hope expires, and fate forbids to save!
This to his fame the brightest ray has given,
And called down blessings from approving heaven.

But ah! the worth which you have all admired,
With humbler virtues—tenderer, more retired—
Could not avail from early death to save
Him who had rescued other's from the grave.
His part is o'er—the manly form, which trod
These boards so oft, now sleeps beneath the sod;
But the immortal mind, which never dies,
To scenes more bright and permanent must rise;
There enter on eternity's vast stage,
And act an angel's part, an endless age.

Your generous bounty cannot reach him there—
But ah! he's left dear pledges to your care,
Whose fate may e'en affect his bliss in heaven,
As your protection is withheld or given.
O then continue—as you do to-night,
“To make affliction's burthen sit more light;”
Protect the hapless orphan—shield the form
Of widowed love, from misery's “pitiless storm;”
So will you hear angelic lips applaud,
And find the act itself a rich reward!

University of Virginia Library

AN ADDRESS,

Intended to have been spoken at the Park Theatre, for the Benefit of the Widow and Orphans of HOPKINS ROBERTSON.