"Twas then the youths from every plain and grove Adorn'd with mournful verse thy Silvia's bier; "Twas then the nymphs their votive garlands wove, And strew'd the fragrance of the youthful year. 'But why, alas! the tender scene display? Could Damon's foot the pious path decline? Ah, no! 'twas Damon first attuned his lay, And sure no sonnet was so dear as thine. Thus was I bosom'd in the peaceful grave, My placid ghost no longer wept its doom; When savage robbers every sanction brave, And with outrageous guilt defraud the tomb. 'Shall my poor corse, from hostile realms convey'd, Lose the cheap portion of my native sands? Or, in my kindred's dear embraces laid, Mourn the vile ravage of barbarian hands? Say, would thy breast no deathlike torture feel, To see my limbs the felon's gripe obey? To see them gash'd beneath the daring steel? To crowds a spectre, and to dogs a prey? 'If Pæan's sons these horrid rites require, If Health's fair science be by these refined; Let guilty convicts for their use expire, And let their breathless corse avail mankind. 'Yet hard it seems, when Guilt's last fine is paid, To see the victim's corse denied repose; Now, more severe, the poor offenceless maid Dreads the dire outrage of inhuman foes. 'Where is the faith of ancient pagans fled? Where the fond care the wandering manes claim? Nature, instinctive, cries, "Protect the dead; And sacred be their ashes and their fame!" prey: Arise, dear youth! e'en now the danger calls; E'en now the villain snuffs his wonted See! see! I lead thee to yon sacred walls— Oh! fly to chase these human wolves away.' REFLECTIONS, SUGGESTED BY HIS SITUATION. BORN near the scene for Kenelm's 1 fate renown'd, Kenelm, in the Saxon heptarchy, was heir to the kingdom of Mercia; but being very young at his father's death, was, by the artifices of his sister and her lover, deprived of his crown and life together. The body was found in a piece of ground near the top of Clent Hill, exactly facing Mr. Shenstone's house, near which place a church was afterwards erected to his memory, still used for divine worship, and called St. Kenelm's. See Plot's History of Staffordshire. How kind were Fortune! ah, how just were Fate ! See, garnish'd for the chase, the fraudful maid But now, nor shaggy hill nor pathless plain The melting graces of no vulgar lyre. See Thomson, loitering near some limpid well, For Britain's friend the verdant wreath prepare! Or, studious of revolving seasons, tell How peerless Lucia made all seasons fair! See*** from civic garlands fly, And in these groves indulge his tuneful vein! Or from yon summit, with a guardian's eye, Observe how Freedom's hand attires the plain! Here Pope !—ah, never must that towering mind To his loved haunts or dearer friend return! What art, what friendships! oh, what fame resign'd! -In yonder glade I trace his mournful urn. Where is the breast can rage or hate retain, hold? Where is the breast can hear the woodland strain, Here, far from courts, and void of pompous cares, Canst thou, O Sun! that spotless throne disclose, There with the friendly wish, the kindly flame, And e'en the beardless lip essays deceit. There coward Rumours walk their murderous round; The glance that more than rural blame instils : Whispers that, tinged with friendship, doubly wound; Pity that injures, and concern that kills. There anger whets, but love can ne'er engage; There all are rivals! sister, son, and sire, With horrid purpose hug destructive arms; There soft-eyed maids in murderous plots conspire, And scorn the gentler mischief of their charms. Let servile minds one endless watch endure! Day, night, nor hour, their anxious guard resign; But lay me, Fate! on flowery banks secure, Though my whole soul be, like my limbs, supine. Yes; may my tongue disdain a vassal's care; My lyre resound no prostituted lays; More warm to merit, more elate to wear The cap of Freedom than the crown of bays. Sooth'd by the murmurs of my pebbled flood, I scorn the quarry where no shrub can grow. No midnight pangs the shepherd's peace pursue; His tongue, his hand, attempts no secret wound; He sings his Delia; and, if she be true, His love at once and his ambition's crown'd. |