Ye fons of wealth! protect the mufe's train; He lov'd a nymph: amidst his flender store, He dar'd to love; and CYNTHIA was his theme; He breath'd his plaints along the rocky fhore, They only echo'd o'er the winding ftream. His nymph was fair; the sweetest bud that blows, Revives lefs lovely from the recent show'r; So PHILOMEL enamour'd eyes the rofe; Sweet bird! enamour'd of the sweetest flow'r! He lov'd the mufe; fhe taught him to complain; He lov'd the mufe, altho' fhe taught in vain; She guides the foot that treads on Parian floors; Of vice's brothel, forth to virtue's fane. He wish'd for wealth, for much he wifh'd to give ; The penfive profpect fadden'd all his strain. I faw him faint! I faw him fink to reft! Like one ordain'd to fwell the vulgar throng; As tho' the virtues had not warm'd his breaft, As tho' the mufes not infpir'd his tongue. I faw his bier ignobly crofs the plain; Saw peafant hands the pious rite supply: The generous ruftics mourn'd the friendly swain, But pow'r and wealth's unvarying cheek was dry! Such ALCON fell; in meagre want forlorn! Where were ye then ye powerful patrons, where? Wou'd ye the purple fhou'd your limbs adorn, Go wash the confcious blemish with a tear. ELEGY * Graves. TH EL EGY IV. OPHELIA's urn. To Mr. G HRO' the dim veil of ev'ning's dusky fhade, Near fome lone fane, or yew's funereal green, What dreary forms has magic fear furvey'd! What shrouded spectres superstition seen! But The glim'ring twilight and the doubtful dawn Shall fee your step to these sad scenes return: Conftant, as crystal dews impearl the lawn, Shall STREPHON's tear bedew OPHELIA's urn! Sure nought unhallow'd fhall prefume to ftray Where foft OPHELIA's dear remains are laid. Haply thy mufe, as with unceafing fighs Then fame, her clarion pendent at her side, Shall feek forgiveness of OPHELIA's shade; Why has fuch worth, without distinction, dy'd, Why, like the defert's lilly, bloom'd to fade ?" Then young fimplicity, averfe to feign, Then elegance with coy judicious hand, Shall cull fresh flow'rets for OPHELIA's tomb: And beauty chide the fates' fevere command, That shew'd the frailty of fo fair a bloom! And fancy then with wild ungovern'd woe, And ask sweet folace of the mufe in vain! Ah gentle forms expect no fond relief; Too much the facred nine their lofs deplore: Well may ye grieve, nor find an end of grief— Your beft, your brightest fav'rite is no more. ELEGY EL EGY V. He compares the turbulence of love with the tranquillity of friendship. To MELISSA his friend. F ROM love, from angry love's inclement reign I pass awhile to friendship's equal skies; Thou, gen'rous maid, reliev'ft my partial pain, And chear'st the victim of another's eyes. 'Tis thou, MELISSA, thou deferv'ft my care: How can my will and reafon difagree? How can my paffion live beneath despair! How can my bofom figh for aught but thee? Ah dear MELISSA! pleas'd with thee to rove, Love is a pleasing, but a various clime! So fmiles immortal MARO's fav'rite shore, PARTHENOPE, with ev'ry verdure crown'd! When ftrait VESUVIO's horrid cauldrons roar, And the dry vapour blafts the regions round. Oh blisful regions! oh unrival'd plains! When MARO to these fragrant haunts retir'd! Oh fatal realms! and oh accurft domains! When PLINY, 'mid fulphureous clouds, expir'd! |