Miscellanies in Prose and Verse By Mrs. Catherine Jemmat |
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An Apology for declining the melancholy Task of a Poem on the Death of his Serene Highness the Stadtholder.
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 | Miscellanies in Prose and Verse |  |
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An Apology for declining the melancholy Task of a Poem on the Death of his Serene Highness the Stadtholder.
While some, in studied elegance of verse,
Strew gaudy flow'rs on Nassau's precious herse;
With real patriots oft my tears I blend,
Tears for Batavia's, Albion's, Europe's friend;
Or in dark solitude, where Fancy reigns,
Brood over black imaginary scenes:
Ev'n now I see the fun'ral pomp appear,
Tears stream from all, and sighs disturb the ear.
Strew gaudy flow'rs on Nassau's precious herse;
With real patriots oft my tears I blend,
Tears for Batavia's, Albion's, Europe's friend;
Or in dark solitude, where Fancy reigns,
Brood over black imaginary scenes:
Ev'n now I see the fun'ral pomp appear,
Tears stream from all, and sighs disturb the ear.
With arms revers'd, and ensigns trail'd along,
A band of warriors heads the mourning throng;
Warriors preferr'd of late, for solid worth,
Not weigh'd in cheating scales of wealth or birth:
Oh! had he led them to the bloody plain,
Soon had their swords wip'd off their country's stain:
By him inspir'd, nor menaces nor arts,
Nor pow'rful bribes, had sway'd their loyal hearts.
A band of warriors heads the mourning throng;
Warriors preferr'd of late, for solid worth,
Not weigh'd in cheating scales of wealth or birth:
Oh! had he led them to the bloody plain,
Soon had their swords wip'd off their country's stain:
By him inspir'd, nor menaces nor arts,
Nor pow'rful bribes, had sway'd their loyal hearts.
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Behold! his banner wav'd aloft by Fame,
While, with her silver trump, she sounds his name:
His titles and atchievements rais'd to view,
Serve but to swell the tide of grief anew.
While, with her silver trump, she sounds his name:
His titles and atchievements rais'd to view,
Serve but to swell the tide of grief anew.
Say who that mourner, with dejected air?
'Tis Commerce, once great NASSAU's princely care.
'Tis Commerce, once great NASSAU's princely care.
See next where Piety, with raptur'd look,
Revolves the pages of the sacred book:
In that bless'd mirror sees her hero rise,
Wafted on cherub's wings thro' yonder skies.
Revolves the pages of the sacred book:
In that bless'd mirror sees her hero rise,
Wafted on cherub's wings thro' yonder skies.
Whence flows this burst of glory on my sight?
Justice and Truth, array'd in dazzling white!
Justice and Truth, array'd in dazzling white!
And now, the social Virtues, hand in hand,
Marshall'd by Prudence, form another band.
Marshall'd by Prudence, form another band.
Thou too, fair Liberty! though wan and pale,
Dartest thy beauties through that Cypress veil.
Willing Obedience, with her silken chain,
Attends thy steps, and holds thy flowing train.
Dartest thy beauties through that Cypress veil.
Willing Obedience, with her silken chain,
Attends thy steps, and holds thy flowing train.
But most on you, my gloomy thoughts I turn,
Who, in your feeble hands, support that urn.
That babe too weeps; alas! he knows not why,
Catching th' infection from a parent's eye.
Her elder Comfort sinks [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Who, in your feeble hands, support that urn.
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Catching th' infection from a parent's eye.
Her elder Comfort sinks [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Through such appalling scenes, how can the Muse,
Or flowing numbers, or just words infuse?
To warmer fancies be the task consign'd:
Thoughts but congeal within a languid mind.
Or flowing numbers, or just words infuse?
To warmer fancies be the task consign'd:
Thoughts but congeal within a languid mind.
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