Neglected Genius A Poem. Illustrating the Untimely And Unfortunate Fate Of Many British Poets; From the Period of Henry the Eighth to the Aera of the Unfortunate Chatterton. Containing Imitations of their Different Styles, &c. &c. By W. H. Ireland |
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EPITAPH,
INSCRIBED BY FAME UPON THE TOMB OF GENIUS. |
 | Neglected Genius |  |
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EPITAPH, INSCRIBED BY FAME UPON THE TOMB OF GENIUS.
IN HOC SIGNO VINCES.
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Tremend'ous Death, fell monarch of the grave,
Thy yawning sepulchre now meets my sight,
Unfathomable gapes corruption's cave,
Colder than ice—black as chaotic night.
Thy yawning sepulchre now meets my sight,
Unfathomable gapes corruption's cave,
Colder than ice—black as chaotic night.
Amid these realms, 'thron'd in imperial state,
The boney spectre with a ghastly grin
Beholds the Parcæ's toil, and hails that fate
Which stamps thy monarchy—O! damning sin.
The boney spectre with a ghastly grin
Beholds the Parcæ's toil, and hails that fate
Which stamps thy monarchy—O! damning sin.
Firm in his grasp the deadly sceptre view,
That dart of adamant no pow'r can shield;
Mark round his temples of cadaverous hue,
The iron crown, to which all nations yield.
That dart of adamant no pow'r can shield;
Mark round his temples of cadaverous hue,
The iron crown, to which all nations yield.
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Paly his robe like blasting meteor flows,
Winds pestilential, sweep before his throne
His ceaseless hymn; ten million mundane woes,
The shrieks of anguish and the dying groan.
Winds pestilential, sweep before his throne
His ceaseless hymn; ten million mundane woes,
The shrieks of anguish and the dying groan.
Yet, though thy tyrant sway man's pow'r defies;
Though terror grim awaits thy rueful nod:
Forth from thy cavern still a spirit flies,
To reign immortal in the realms of God.
Though terror grim awaits thy rueful nod:
Forth from thy cavern still a spirit flies,
To reign immortal in the realms of God.
Bright soaring genius bursts the frozen spell,
Inwrapp'd by glory's everlasting blaze,
Severs the brazen gates of death and hell;
While fame's loud blast for ever trumps its praise.
Inwrapp'd by glory's everlasting blaze,
Severs the brazen gates of death and hell;
While fame's loud blast for ever trumps its praise.
Such is the spirit by this urn enshrin'd,
Hail, reverently hail! the hallow'd tomb;
Confess the paragon of human-kind,
Genius; that soars above death's fateful doom.
Hail, reverently hail! the hallow'd tomb;
Confess the paragon of human-kind,
Genius; that soars above death's fateful doom.
| Neglected Genius | |