FRIEND of departed worth! whose pilgrim feet Trace injured merit to its last retreat, Oft will thy steps imprint the hallowed shade Where WAKEFIELD's dust embalmed in tears is laid: "Here," wilt thou say, "a high undaunted soul, That spurned at palsied Caution's chill controul, A mind by Learning stored, by Genius fired, In Freedom's cause with generous zeal inspired, Slumbers in dust: the fabric of his fame Rests on the pillar of a spotless name!" Tool of corruption! spaniel-slave of power! Should thy rash steps in some unguarded hour Profane the shrine, deep on thy shrinking heart Engrave this awful moral, and depart:... That not the slanderer's shaft, the bigot's hate, The dungeon's gloom, or the keen stroke of Fate, Can rob the good man of that peerless prize Which not pale Mammon's countless treasure buys; The conscience clear whence secret pleasures flow, And friendship kindled 'mid the night of woe, Assiduous love that stays the parting breath, And honest fame triumphant over death. For you, who over the sacred marble bend To weep the husband, brother, father, friend, And, mutely eloquent, in anguish raise Of keen regrets his monument of praise, May Faith, may Friendship dry your streaming eyes, And Virtue mingle comfort with your sighs; Till Resignation, softly stealing on, With pensive smile bid lingering Grief begone, And tardy Time veil over with gradual shade All but the tender tints you would not wish to fade! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EUROPE; THE 72ND AND 73RD YEARS OF THESE STATES by WALT WHITMAN THE SALZBURG CHIMES by HENRY ALFORD TWO GRANDMOTHERS by IRENE ARCHER THE REGULAR STORY by BERTON BRALEY LONDON, SEPTEMBER, 1944 by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB |