NO more of Mirth and rural Joys, The gay Description quickly cloys, In melting Numbers, sadly slow, I tune my alter'd Strings to Woe; Attend, @3Melpomene,@1 and with thee bring Thy tragic Lute, @3Euphranor@1's Death to sing. Fond wilt thou be his Name to praise, For oft' thou heard'st his skilful Lays; @3Isis@1 for him soft Tears has shed, She plac'd her Ivy on his Head; Chose him, strict Judge, to rule with steady Reins, The vigorous Fancies of her listening Swains. With Genius, Wit, and Science blest, Unshaken Honour arm'd his Breast, Bade him, with virtuous Courage wise, Malignant @3Fortune@1's Darts despise; Him, ev'n black @3Envy@1's venom'd Tongues commend, As Scholar, Pastor, Husband, Father, Friend. For ever sacred, ever dear, O much-lov'd Shade accept this Tear; Each Night indulging pious Woe, Fresh Roses on thy Tomb I strew, And wish for tender @3Spenser@1's moving Verse, Warbled in broken Sobs o'er @3Sydney@1's Herse; Let me to that deep Cave resort, Where @3Sorrow@1 keeps her silent Court, For ever wringing her pale Hands, While dumb @3Misfortune@1 near her stands, With downcast Eyes the @3Cares@1 around her wait, And @3Pity@1 sobbing sits before the Gate. Thus stretch'd upon his Grave I sung, When strait my Ears with Murmur rung, A distant, deaf, and hollow Sound Was heard in solemn Whispers round—— "Enough, dear Youth!——tho' wrapt in Bliss above, "Well-pleas'd I listen to thy Lays of Love." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CAMPUS SONNET: BEFORE AN EXAMINATION by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET A MAN'S VOCATION IS NOBODY'S BUSINESS by JAMES GALVIN OLD MEN ON THE COURTHOUSE LAWN, MURRAY, KENTUCKY by JAMES GALVIN SERVICE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE JOY OF THE HILLS by EDWIN MARKHAM A CARELESS HEART by ISAAC ROSENBERG |