FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106  
107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   >>   >|  
part, And filled with joy unknown my ravished heart: Attent I listened while the feathered throng Alternate finished and renewed their song. * * * * * THOMAS TICKELL FROM ON THE DEATH OF MR. ADDISON Can I forget the dismal night that gave My soul's best part forever to the grave? How silent did his old companions tread, By midnight lamps, the mansions of the dead, Through breathing statues, then unheeded things, Through rows of warriors, and through walks of kings! What awe did the slow solemn knell inspire; The pealing organ, and the pausing choir; The duties by the lawn-robed prelate paid; And the last words, that dust to dust conveyed! While speechless o'er thy closing grave we bend, Accept these tears, thou dear departed friend. Oh, gone forever! take this long adieu; And sleep in peace next thy loved Montague! To strew fresh laurels, let the task be mine, A frequent pilgrim at thy sacred shrine; Mine with true sighs thy absence to bemoan, And grave with faithful epitaphs thy stone. If e'er from me thy loved memorial part, May shame afflict this alienated heart; Of thee forgetful if I form a song, My lyre be broken, and untuned my tongue, My griefs be doubled from thy image free, And mirth a torment, unchastised by thee! Oft let me range the gloomy aisles alone, (Sad luxury to vulgar minds unknown) Along the walls where speaking marbles show What worthies form the hallowed mould below; Proud names, who once the reins of empire held; In arms who triumphed, or in arts excelled; Chiefs graced with scars and prodigal of blood; Stern patriots who for sacred freedom stood; Just men by whom impartial laws were given; And saints who taught and led the way to Heaven. Ne'er to these chambers, where the mighty rest, Since their foundation came a nobler guest; Nor e'er was to the bowers of bliss conveyed A fairer spirit or more welcome shade. * * * * * That awful form (which, so ye Heavens decree, Must still be loved and still deplored by me,) In nightly visions seldom fails to rise, Or, roused by fancy, meets my waking eyes. If business calls or crowded courts invite, Th' unblemished statesman seems to strike my sight; If in the stage I seek to soothe my care, I meet his soul which breathes in Cato there; If pensive to the rural shad
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106  
107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

forever

 

Through

 

sacred

 

unknown

 
conveyed
 
Chiefs
 

impartial

 

excelled

 

patriots

 

freedom


prodigal

 
graced
 

luxury

 

vulgar

 
aisles
 

unchastised

 
torment
 
gloomy
 
speaking
 

marbles


empire

 

worthies

 
hallowed
 

triumphed

 

chambers

 
business
 

crowded

 

courts

 
invite
 
waking

seldom
 

roused

 
unblemished
 
statesman
 

breathes

 

pensive

 

strike

 

soothe

 
visions
 

nightly


foundation

 
nobler
 

mighty

 

taught

 

Heaven

 

bowers

 

Heavens

 

decree

 

deplored

 

fairer