'TWAS on the Day that @3Bosworth@1 Field was won, And @3Glo'ster@1 fell, and @3Richmond@1 wore the Crown, When as I sat revolving in my Mind, The Chiefs descended from two Houses join'd, A balmy Slumber with a sweet Surprize, Stole soft and silent o'er my yielding Eyes; Fancy, officious every Part to act, Or Nature's Landscapes, or historic Fact, A Bower had built profusely gay and bright, With all the Beauty that can take the Sight, Not more enchanting that @3Elysian@1 Place Where good @3Æneas@1 saw the @3Julian@1 Race, An Area soon with mystic Signs was spread, Diversified with Roses White and Red: Thither a @3Sybil@1 call'd me from the Throng To mark the various Figures move along: My awe-struck Memory never shall forget Their Forms, their Names, their Numbers, and their State. A Robber first, with holy Plunder fraught, Whose less'ning Bags were Gold, were Dust, were Nought. A Youth came next, who charm'd with ev'ry Grace, As Angels good, and O as swift his Pace. A Fury then, with more disorder'd Haste, Past by, and dealt Destruction as she past. Her ruffled Garments dropt with Martyr's Gore, And in her Hand a flaming Torch she bore. Not so the heavenly Maid who next arose, Admir'd by all, tho' terrible to Foes; Whose Aim was nobler, and whose Speed was less, Who rose to triumph, and who stay'd to bless; A Phœnix she, that peerless liv'd and dy'd, Nor left a Race that her great Loss supply'd. Yet came there to fulfil her last Command, The wisest Animal of Nature's Hand, A tame, a peaceful, tho' a wily Fox, Who never slew, but only fleec'd the Flocks. Soon as he earth'd a Pelican arose, By Friends deserted, and pursu'd by Foes; In Both his brave Contempt of Life was shewn, Who for the Good of Others gave his Own. Here all methought was Dark! at length appear A Goat lascivious, and a hunted Deer. The @3Sybil@1 paus'd—and her sage Art to prove, Declar'd that These would different Passions move, Our useless Pity One, and One our lasting Love. Now rose a sweet Carnation's silken Flow'r, Fruitless, yet fair, the Beauty of an Hour, For poisonous @3Eurus@1 came——its bloomy Pride, That unexpected rose, as quickly dy'd. Next seem'd to dart from Heaven, a spotless Dove, Who dropt an Olive-Branch, the Type of Love; Then all too sudden flew amid the Spheres, And shone a Star upon the World in Tears. The Visionary Crowd that gaz'd below All wept in Dream, and gave a Loose to Woe; @3Britannia@1's self abandon'd to Despair, Her azure Mantle tore, and sea-green Hair: Deep Sorrow wak'd me from th' unfinisht Scene, Eternally to mourn a matchless Queen. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON FEATHER BEDS by JOHN ARMSTRONG MATRIMONIAL MELODIES: 1. ASHES TO ASHES by BERTON BRALEY SHE WAS A BEAUTY by HENRY CUYLER BUNNER A CHILD'S GRACE by ROBERT BURNS THE BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO by KINAHAN CORNWALLIS |