Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON THE DEATH OF CHATTERTON, by HANNAH COWLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON THE DEATH OF CHATTERTON, by                    
First Line: Ill-fated chatterton! For thee I raise
Last Line: My tears, my verse, shall consecrate thy name!
Alternate Author Name(s): Matilda, Anna; Parkhouse, Hannah
Variant Title(s): Monologue
Subject(s): Chatterton, Thomas (1752-1770); Despair


Ill-fated Chatterton! for thee I raise
A mingled ray of censure and of praise!
Bright star of Genius! torn from life and fame,
My tears, my verse, shall consecrate thy name!
Ye Muses! who around his natal bed
Bestowed your gifts, and all your influence shed;
Apollo! that didst fire his infant breast,
And in his genuine numbers shine confest,
Ah, why on him such sensate nerves bestow
To heighten torture to the child of woe!
Thou haggard Poverty! whose cheerless eye
Makes note of Rapture change to deepest sigh,
Subdued by thee his pen no more obeys,
No more revives the song of ancient days,
Check'd in his flight, his lofty genius cowers,
Locks her faint wings, and yields to thee her powers!

Behold him, Muses! see your favourite son,
The prey of want ere manhood is begun;
The heart which you inspired by anguish torn,
The mind you cherish'd, drooping and forlorn!
See now! Despair her sable form extends,
Creeps to his couch, and o'er his pillow bends!
Ah, see! a deadly bowl, till now conceal'd,
Before his eyes is gradually reveal'd;
Some spirit seize it! seize the liquid snare,
Cast it to earth, or dissipate in air --
Stay, hapless youth! refrain, abhor the draught,
With racking pangs, with deep Repentance fraught!
Oh, hold! the cup with WOE ETERNAL flows,
More, more than Death! the poisonous juice bestows.

In vain! -- he drinks! see how the scorching fires
Rush through his veins! see, writhing, he expires!
No sorrowing friend, no sister, parent nigh,
To soothe his pangs, or catch his parting sigh,
Alone, unknown, the Muses' favourite dies,
And with the vulgar dead, unnoted lies!

Bright star of Genius! torn from Life and Fame,
My tears, my verse, shall consecrate thy name!





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