The Modern Dunciad Virgil in London and Other Poems [by George Daniel] |
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ON THE
DEATH OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE. |
 | The Modern Dunciad |  |
313
ON THE DEATH OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE.
'Tis past!—the funeral knell is rung,
The solemn requiem for the dead
Is hush'd—the dirge of death is sung!
A nation's tears have all been shed.
The solemn requiem for the dead
Is hush'd—the dirge of death is sung!
A nation's tears have all been shed.
Within the grave's sepulchral gloom
A purer spirit ne'er repos'd;
And never yet the silent tomb
Upon a richer treasure clos'd.
A purer spirit ne'er repos'd;
And never yet the silent tomb
Upon a richer treasure clos'd.
Do wealth and honours swell thy train—
Say, what are wealth and honours now?
Does fleeting beauty make thee vain—
Go gaze upon that lifeless brow!
Say, what are wealth and honours now?
Does fleeting beauty make thee vain—
Go gaze upon that lifeless brow!
Does youth, with ev'ry charm to please,
A judgment clear, a taste refin'd,
Attemper'd sweet with native ease,
Or flatt'ry's voice uplift thy mind?
A judgment clear, a taste refin'd,
Attemper'd sweet with native ease,
Or flatt'ry's voice uplift thy mind?
314
Reflect on Charlotte's early doom,
And mark the triumph of the tomb!
And mark the triumph of the tomb!
But if with nobler passions fraught,
Thy soul, despising meaner things,
Aspire to dignity of thought,
A great ambition, worthy kings!
Thy soul, despising meaner things,
Aspire to dignity of thought,
A great ambition, worthy kings!
If to religion's sacred zeal
The love of liberty be join'd;
With charity, to deeply feel
The sorrows that afflict mankind—
The love of liberty be join'd;
With charity, to deeply feel
The sorrows that afflict mankind—
Rejoice! for to unspotted worth
Behold what rich rewards are giv'n;
Living, dying—peace on earth,
And Immortality in Heav'n.
Behold what rich rewards are giv'n;
Living, dying—peace on earth,
And Immortality in Heav'n.
| The Modern Dunciad | |