A collection of poems on various subjects including the theatre, a didactic essay; in the course of which are pointed out, the rocks and shoals to which deluded adventurers are inevitably exposed. Ornamented with cuts and illustrated with notes, original letters and curious incidental anecdotes [by Samuel Whyte] |
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| VIII. | ELEGY VIII. THE MOURNERS, A SKETCH FROM LIFE. |
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 | A collection of poems on various subjects |  |
133
ELEGY VIII. THE MOURNERS, A SKETCH FROM LIFE.
Rutland is gone! and free from toils
Of ill-requited sway;
No sycophants now court his smiles;
No tools his nod obey.
Of ill-requited sway;
No sycophants now court his smiles;
No tools his nod obey.
The flower of many a promis'd year
Snatch'd off in early bloom;
To candour, justice, honour dear,
He dropt into the tomb.
Snatch'd off in early bloom;
To candour, justice, honour dear,
He dropt into the tomb.
No weeping consort smooth'd his couch;
No anxious parent nigh;
No kindred friend his end to vouch,
Or close his asking eye.
No anxious parent nigh;
No kindred friend his end to vouch,
Or close his asking eye.
Silent is every venal bard;
Mute every fawning tongue;
No dirges in the streets are heard;
No solemn knell is rung.
Mute every fawning tongue;
No dirges in the streets are heard;
No solemn knell is rung.
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Suppose them all but empty show,
Where is decorum fled?
Has custom nothing to bestow;
Not one forc'd tear to shed?
Where is decorum fled?
Has custom nothing to bestow;
Not one forc'd tear to shed?
Joy mark'd the dawning of his reign;
All hearts his presence fir'd;
But with him died the hope of gain,
And gratitude expir'd.
All hearts his presence fir'd;
But with him died the hope of gain,
And gratitude expir'd.
Envy, thro' mists that all things views,
His life presumes to scan;
And slander tells us, wondrous news!
He was, alas! but man.
His life presumes to scan;
And slander tells us, wondrous news!
He was, alas! but man.
Who?—Darkness hovering o'er the land
To polish'd arts averse—
Who first stretch'd out his fostering hand,
And bade the clouds disperse?
To polish'd arts averse—
Who first stretch'd out his fostering hand,
And bade the clouds disperse?
While here fair science holds a place,
Or learning bears a name,
Regret his memory shall trace,
And truth enhance his fame.
Or learning bears a name,
Regret his memory shall trace,
And truth enhance his fame.
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'Tis Rutland's due, the great design
Our annals will attest:
May wreaths unfading grace his shrine,
In peace his ashes rest!
Our annals will attest:
May wreaths unfading grace his shrine,
In peace his ashes rest!
Oft kindnesses not understood
Foul enmity produce,
And schemes replete with public good
Are branded with abuse.
Foul enmity produce,
And schemes replete with public good
Are branded with abuse.
The general weal, by few conceiv'd,
Confess'd he there pursu'd;
But no respect, of life bereav'd,
Could obloquy preclude.
Confess'd he there pursu'd;
But no respect, of life bereav'd,
Could obloquy preclude.
When, lo! the royal mandate came,
To pour the mammon forth,
And down the foremost to defame
Fell prostrate to his worth.
To pour the mammon forth,
And down the foremost to defame
Fell prostrate to his worth.
Now arrogance and little pride
Obtrude their selfish claim;
But rites, by narrow souls denied,
Prove heralds of their shame.
Obtrude their selfish claim;
But rites, by narrow souls denied,
Prove heralds of their shame.
136
Slow mov'd the long procession on
In sad funereal guise;
And grief thro' tears conspicuous shone,
In youth and beauty's eyes.
In sad funereal guise;
And grief thro' tears conspicuous shone,
In youth and beauty's eyes.
Even age subdued, tho' rigid grown
To pity and remorse,
Not yet quite harden'd into stone,
Beholds the sabled horse.
To pity and remorse,
Not yet quite harden'd into stone,
Beholds the sabled horse.
The horse that wont to bear his lord,
His lord no more to bear,
Drooping in dumb affliction, stirr'd
Each kind sensation there.
His lord no more to bear,
Drooping in dumb affliction, stirr'd
Each kind sensation there.
The honest Swiss, for Minden's chief,
Who risk'd his vital breath,
With fortitude sustaining grief,
Felt thrice the stroke of death.
Who risk'd his vital breath,
With fortitude sustaining grief,
Felt thrice the stroke of death.
He too whose slack unnerved hand
Directs the doleful herse,
In other pomp was wont to drive,
And mourns the sad reverse.
Directs the doleful herse,
In other pomp was wont to drive,
And mourns the sad reverse.
137
One manly visage more appear'd,
Where deep distress was writ;
Who can forget, so long endear'd,
The honour'd name of Pitt?
Where deep distress was writ;
Who can forget, so long endear'd,
The honour'd name of Pitt?
Ye sons of levity and whim,
Whom paltry cares enslave;
See, how pure nature's priz'd in him!
How tears become the brave!
Whom paltry cares enslave;
See, how pure nature's priz'd in him!
How tears become the brave!
Many who join'd the pensive train,
Might act a mimic part;
There, strongly character'd, 'twas plain
Keen sorrow pierc'd the heart.
Might act a mimic part;
There, strongly character'd, 'twas plain
Keen sorrow pierc'd the heart.
Some kindless—stop the dues are paid;
The pageantry is done—
Go, parasites! pursue your trade,
And hail the rising sun!
The pageantry is done—
Go, parasites! pursue your trade,
And hail the rising sun!
Nor idly spent your incense dread,
Tho' fate your views retard;
Viceroys and Kings are powerless dead,
The living may reward.
Tho' fate your views retard;
Viceroys and Kings are powerless dead,
The living may reward.
| A collection of poems on various subjects | |