 | An elegy written among the Tombs in Westminster Abbey |  |
3
AN ELEGY WRITTEN AMONG THE Tombs in Westminster Abbey.
Hail hallow'd Fane! amid whose mould'ring Shrines,
Her Vigils musing Melancholy keeps,
Upon her Arm her harrow'd Cheek reclines,
And o'er the Spoils of human Grandeur weeps.
Her Vigils musing Melancholy keeps,
Upon her Arm her harrow'd Cheek reclines,
And o'er the Spoils of human Grandeur weeps.
Hail aweful Edifice! thine Iles along,
In Contemplation wrapt, O let me stray!
And stealing from the idly busy Throng,
Serenely meditate the moral Lay.
In Contemplation wrapt, O let me stray!
And stealing from the idly busy Throng,
Serenely meditate the moral Lay.
4
Far hence be banish'd ev'ry Note profane,
Where Heav'n-inspir'd Devotion loves to raise
Her Voice seraphic to each lofty Strain,
Attun'd to celebrate Jehovah's Praise.
Where Heav'n-inspir'd Devotion loves to raise
Her Voice seraphic to each lofty Strain,
Attun'd to celebrate Jehovah's Praise.
Come Heav'nly Muse, awake the plaintive String,
Each vagrant Motion of the Mind controul;
Exalt my Fancy on thy soaring Wing,
And with thy Pathos pure possess my Soul.
Each vagrant Motion of the Mind controul;
Exalt my Fancy on thy soaring Wing,
And with thy Pathos pure possess my Soul.
What pleasing Sadness fills my thoughtful Breast,
Whene'er my Steps these vaulted Mansions trace;
Where in their silent Tombs for ever rest
The honour'd Ashes of the British Race.
Whene'er my Steps these vaulted Mansions trace;
Where in their silent Tombs for ever rest
The honour'd Ashes of the British Race.
What Eye can read without a starting Tear,
What Heart reflect without a pensive Sigh,
On the same Story ev'ry Marble here
Relates of wretched Man's Mortality.
What Heart reflect without a pensive Sigh,
On the same Story ev'ry Marble here
Relates of wretched Man's Mortality.
5
Here terminate Ambition's airy Schemes,
The Syren Pleasure here allures no more;
Here grov'ling Av'rice drops her golden Dreams,
And Life's fantastic Trifles all are o'er.
The Syren Pleasure here allures no more;
Here grov'ling Av'rice drops her golden Dreams,
And Life's fantastic Trifles all are o'er.
No furious Passions here the Bosom rend,
Here the true Mourner's poignant Sorrows cease;
Here hopeless Love, and cruel Hatred end,
And the World-weary Trav'ler rests in Peace.
Here the true Mourner's poignant Sorrows cease;
Here hopeless Love, and cruel Hatred end,
And the World-weary Trav'ler rests in Peace.
Approach vain Child of Fortune, Pow'r and Fame,
Here learn a Lesson from each speaking Bust;
Lo! on each Tomb engrav'd the empty Name
Of worldly Greatness levell'd in the Dust!
Here learn a Lesson from each speaking Bust;
Lo! on each Tomb engrav'd the empty Name
Of worldly Greatness levell'd in the Dust!
How high each Pers'nage once, how honour'd! read;
How low! how little now, look down and see!
Then scan thyself—and know it is decred,
That thou as little, and as low shalt be.
How low! how little now, look down and see!
Then scan thyself—and know it is decred,
That thou as little, and as low shalt be.
6
Behold! above yon' monumental Piles,
The King of Terrors reigns in aweful State!
And from his Throne surveys with ghastly Smiles
His Triumphs over all the World calls great:
The King of Terrors reigns in aweful State!
And from his Throne surveys with ghastly Smiles
His Triumphs over all the World calls great:
Surveys of British Chivalry the Flow'r,
Each mighty Monarch, and each Champion brave;
Illustrious Victims of his envious Pow'r,
Sunk in the Dust, and crumbling in the Grave:
Each mighty Monarch, and each Champion brave;
Illustrious Victims of his envious Pow'r,
Sunk in the Dust, and crumbling in the Grave:
Surveys the Wrecks of Genius, Beauty, Birth,
Whate'er might charm the Eye, or win the Heart;
Dissolv'd and blended with the common Earth,
Or fest'ring recent from his vengeful Dart.
Whate'er might charm the Eye, or win the Heart;
Dissolv'd and blended with the common Earth,
Or fest'ring recent from his vengeful Dart.
Ah! what avails all sublunary State!
The transient Pomp and Pageant of a Day;
Since Kings and Peasants, Fellow Slaves of Fate,
When the dread Summons comes must all obey.
The transient Pomp and Pageant of a Day;
Since Kings and Peasants, Fellow Slaves of Fate,
When the dread Summons comes must all obey.
7
Nor Edward's Piety, nor Henry's Might,
Cou'd ward the all-subduing Conqu'ror's blow;
Brave Henry fell in the unequal Fight,
And Edward's pious Breast soon ceas'd to glow.
Cou'd ward the all-subduing Conqu'ror's blow;
Brave Henry fell in the unequal Fight,
And Edward's pious Breast soon ceas'd to glow.
Nor lists dull Death to the melodious Lyre,
Nor heeds the raptur'd Poet's heav'nly Song;
Quench'd in the Dust is Milton's Muse of Fire,
And mute is Dryden's once harmonious Tongue.
Nor heeds the raptur'd Poet's heav'nly Song;
Quench'd in the Dust is Milton's Muse of Fire,
And mute is Dryden's once harmonious Tongue.
Nor Attic Elegance, nor sprightly Strains,
Cou'd e'er the Tyrant's lifted Jav'lin stay,
Lo! here repose chaste Addison's Remains,
Here jocund Prior sleeps, and here lies Gay.
Cou'd e'er the Tyrant's lifted Jav'lin stay,
Lo! here repose chaste Addison's Remains,
Here jocund Prior sleeps, and here lies Gay.
Here too sweet Shakespear, Fancy's fav'rite Child,
The Marble emulates thy Pow'r to please;
With graceful Attitude, and Aspect mild,
Expressing native Dignity and Ease.
The Marble emulates thy Pow'r to please;
With graceful Attitude, and Aspect mild,
Expressing native Dignity and Ease.
8
Nor thy unrivall'd Magic's potent Charm,
Nor tender Stories of ill-fated Love;
Nor Scenes of Horror could his Rage disarm,
Or the insensate Spectre's Pity move.
Nor tender Stories of ill-fated Love;
Nor Scenes of Horror could his Rage disarm,
Or the insensate Spectre's Pity move.
Where were ye Graces, where ye tuneful Nine,
When Shakespear's active Spirit soar'd away?
Where were ye Virtues when the Spark divine,
Forsook its trembling Tenement of Clay?
When Shakespear's active Spirit soar'd away?
Where were ye Virtues when the Spark divine,
Forsook its trembling Tenement of Clay?
Alas! around his Couch attendant all,
Ye saw the Stroke the ruthless Monster gave;
Beheld (sad Scene!) your darling Vot'ry fall,
And wept your Inability to save.
Ye saw the Stroke the ruthless Monster gave;
Beheld (sad Scene!) your darling Vot'ry fall,
And wept your Inability to save.
Vain are all Notes, how high soe'er they rise,
All Numbers vain, however smooth they flow;
Beneath this letter'd Pavement Cowley lies,
And here thy Reliques rest, pathetic Rowe!
All Numbers vain, however smooth they flow;
Beneath this letter'd Pavement Cowley lies,
And here thy Reliques rest, pathetic Rowe!
9
Nor sage Philosophy, that scans the Spheres,
Nor soft Persuasion's soothing Art avails,
O'er Newton's Tomb Urania pours her Tears,
And her lov'd Campbell sad Suadela wails.
Nor soft Persuasion's soothing Art avails,
O'er Newton's Tomb Urania pours her Tears,
And her lov'd Campbell sad Suadela wails.
Cropt as a Flow'r in blooming Beauty's Prime,
Lo! noble Cart'ret's Urn! illustrious Youth!
From Age to Age the hoary Herald Time
Proclaims thy Genius, Innocence and Truth.
Lo! noble Cart'ret's Urn! illustrious Youth!
From Age to Age the hoary Herald Time
Proclaims thy Genius, Innocence and Truth.
Alas! nor Genius, Innocence nor Truth,
Can in the Bosom stay the fleeting Breath,
Nor all the winning Charms of blooming Youth
Subdue thy flinty Heart, obdurate Death!
Can in the Bosom stay the fleeting Breath,
Nor all the winning Charms of blooming Youth
Subdue thy flinty Heart, obdurate Death!
10
Ah me! full many a Victim yet unborn,
Relentless Tyrant! at thy Feet must fall,
Before the dawning of that joyful Morn
When thou shalt yield, and “God be All in All.”
Relentless Tyrant! at thy Feet must fall,
Before the dawning of that joyful Morn
When thou shalt yield, and “God be All in All.”
Know, then shall come the Period of thy Sway,
And this reanimated Dust shall rise
To hail thy Victor on that glorious Day,
When the shrill Trump shall rend the vaulted Skies.
And this reanimated Dust shall rise
To hail thy Victor on that glorious Day,
When the shrill Trump shall rend the vaulted Skies.
Then from the yawning Grave and op'ning Tomb
Shall each reviving Tenant lift his Head,
And this Time-honour'd Temple's lab'ring Womb
Resign its Myriads of illustrious Dead.
Shall each reviving Tenant lift his Head,
And this Time-honour'd Temple's lab'ring Womb
Resign its Myriads of illustrious Dead.
Ev'n now methinks by Faith's pervading Eye,
I see his Banner in the Clouds display'd,
And the World's Saviour from his Throne on high
Descend in Robes of purest Light array'd.
I see his Banner in the Clouds display'd,
And the World's Saviour from his Throne on high
Descend in Robes of purest Light array'd.
11
O Day of Gladness to the Good and Just!
When they shall taste the Wonders of his Love,
And springing vig'rous from the lowly Dust,
Ascend triumphant to the Realms above.
When they shall taste the Wonders of his Love,
And springing vig'rous from the lowly Dust,
Ascend triumphant to the Realms above.
Then shall the Substance of this Fabrick fair,
These trophied Pillars, and these Piles decay,
Mix as a Vapour with the empty Air,
Or like a fleeting Vision fade away.
These trophied Pillars, and these Piles decay,
Mix as a Vapour with the empty Air,
Or like a fleeting Vision fade away.
Then shall the breathing Bust, the sculptur'd Vase,
And all the Labours of the Artist's Hand,
Dissolve; and Virtue's adamantine Base
Alone amid the Wreck of Matter stand.
And all the Labours of the Artist's Hand,
Dissolve; and Virtue's adamantine Base
Alone amid the Wreck of Matter stand.
Yea, tho' Creation founder in the Storm,
And whelming perish in the gen'ral Doom,
Yet shall celestial Virtue's Angel Form
Survive and flourish in immortal Bloom.
And whelming perish in the gen'ral Doom,
Yet shall celestial Virtue's Angel Form
Survive and flourish in immortal Bloom.
12
Then shall the Brave resolve, the gen'rous Deed,
And valiant Conflict in Religion's Cause,
Alone be crown'd with Merit's genuine Meed,
And meet with righteous Heav'n's deserv'd Applause.
And valiant Conflict in Religion's Cause,
Alone be crown'd with Merit's genuine Meed,
And meet with righteous Heav'n's deserv'd Applause.
O! be it then our Wisdom to secure
Those radiant Crowns that beam for ever bright,
Crowns that shall deck the Merciful and Pure
Amid the Mansions of eternal Light.
Those radiant Crowns that beam for ever bright,
Crowns that shall deck the Merciful and Pure
Amid the Mansions of eternal Light.
THE END.
| An elegy written among the Tombs in Westminster Abbey | |