When first thy sire to send on Earth And from her own she learn'd to melt at others' wo. Scar'd at thy frown terrific, fly By vain Prosperity receiv'd, To her they vow their truth, and are again believ'd. Wisdom, in sable garb array'd, Immers'd in rapturous thought profound, And Melancholy, silent maid, With leaden eye, that loves the ground, Still on thy solemn steps attend: Warm Charity, the general friend, With Justice, to herself severe, And Pity, drooping soft the sadly-pleasing tear. Oh, gently on thy suppliant's head, Dread goddess, lay thy chast'ning hand! Not in thy Gorgon terrors clad, Not circled with the vengeful band (As by the impious thou art seen) With thundering voice, and threatening mien, With screaming Horror's funeral cry, Despair, and fell Disease, and ghastly Poverty : VOL. III. 5 Thy form benign, oh goddess! wear, To soften, not to wound my heart. What others are to feel, and know myself a man. Gray. THE SUICIDE. BENEATH the beech, whose branches bare, O'erhang the craggy road, And whistle hollow as they wave; A slayer of himself holds his accurs'd abode. Lour'd the grim morn, in murky dies As by the brook, that lingering laves I mark'd his desultory pace, His gestures strange, and varying face, And ah! too late aghast I view'd The reeking blade, the hand embrued; He fell, and groaning grasp'd in agony the ground. Full many a melancholy night He watch'd the slow return of light; And sought the powers of sleep, To spread a momentary calm O'er his sad couch, and in the balm Of bland oblivion's dews his burning eyes to steep. Full oft, unknowing and unknown, Oft was he wont, in hasty fit, And gaze with eagerglance upon the tumbling flood. Beckoning the wretch to torments new, A spectre pale, appear'd; And brought the day's unwelcome close, 'Is this,' mistaken Scorn will cry, [wo. And rous'd to livelier pangs his wakeful sense of Though doom'd hard penury to prove, More wounds than Nature gave he knew, Then wish not o'er his earthy tomb Nor oh! forbid the twisted thorn, [anew. With Spring's green-swelling buds to vegetate What though no marble-piled bust With speaking sculpture wrought? To build a visionary shrine, [brought. Hung with unfading flowers, from fairy regions What though refus'd each chanted rite? And Petrarch's harp, that wept the doom [knell. In many a pensive pause shall seem to ring his To soothe a lone, unhallow'd shade, Within an ivied nook: Sudden the half-sunk orb of day [took : And thus a cherub-voice my charm'd attention Forbear, fond bard, thy partial praise; Nor thus for guilt in specious lays The wreath of glory twine; In vain with hue of gorgeous glow Gay Fancy gives her vest to flow, [fine. Unless Truth's matron-hand the floating folds con 'Just Heaven, man's fortitude to prove, Permits through life at large to rove The tribes of hell-born Wo: Yet the same power that wisely sends Religion's golden shield to break the embattled foe. 'Her aid divine had lull'd to rest And stay'd the rising storm : Had bade the sun of hope appear [form. And give the wonted bloom to nature's blasted "Vain man! 'tis Heaven's prerogative To take, what first it deign'd to give, Thy tributary breath: In awful expectation plac'd, Await thy doom, nor impious haste To pluck from God's right hand his instruments of death.' Thomas Warton. TO FEAR. THOU, to whom the world unknown, VOL III. 5* |