The Sun.
London, England, 1825-05-13 00:00:00

POETILY.

The following Lines which would do honour to any living
Writer, in point of feeling and poetic spirit, were written and
recited by Mr. FI FZGEItALD, on 'Wednesday last, on the
Anniversary Festival of the LITERARY FUND, at Free-
Masons' lavern :
" When barbarous Nations sack'd Imperial Rome;
And the World's Mistress yielded to her doom ;
Oblivion o'er that land her Poppies flung, •
Where Patriot Sages taught, and Poets sung !
Science deplor'd her Tully's prostrate Bust,
And Genius dropp'd a tear on Maro's Dust ! '
O'er Europe's face a gloomy darkness spread,
And Learning deep in cloisters veird.ber head. , -
A Gothic Age no Patrons could afford,
Where ev'ry Man was Vassal, or was Lord ;
Fierce was the Temper, barren was the Mind,
And War the only business of Mankind :
'Till Leo rose to foster every Art
That charms the Fancy, and delights the Heart !
On him each Muse was.eager to attend,
And Learning found a Patron and a Friend.
So when stern Winter reigns, all Nature sighs,
The cheerful green of Vegetation dies ;
One dreary waste the Eyes of Man behold,
Deluged with Rain, or blasted with the Cold !
But when the glorious Sun relumes the Sphere,
The Trees bud forth, and tender Plants appdar,
Nature no longer feels the Winter's Stour:,
Cheer'd by the Rays that ripen while they warm.
Enlighten'd Science soon her radiance bore
From fair Italia to our Northern Shore ;
Where Genius breathed his soul in Shakspeare's Page !
And Milton shone the Homer of his Age !
Yet in this Soil, where all the Virtues grow,
And, ere the Poor can ask, the Rich bestow I
Authors have often inourn'd their hapless lot,
Their works remember'd, but themselves forgot !
Hard is his the Task who writes for daily bread,
And pillows on a couch of cares his head—
Can Fancy charm the Poet's fever'd Brain,
When Thought serves only to engender Pain ?
Can Passion animate his torpid breast,
By Hope deserted, and by Want oppress'd ?
And yet, though wretched Envy's constant aim,
The sport of Fortune, and the Slave of Fame !
If he a Patron seek in time of need,
With Giant's weight he leans upon a reed—
What can his Muse from Pride of Wealth expect,
But ostentatious aid, or cold neglect ?
Towering Ambition scarce can look so low,
And selfish Pleasure shuns the face of Woe.
In Life's more private scenes those Virtues shine,
Where Human Nature proves her source Divine ;
'Tie there the Great to suffering Worth attend,
And Man's misfortune finds in Man a Friend!
Your plan, which Princes have been proud to own,
Long bless'd in silence, was but little known ;
Early you saw, beneath your fostering care,
GENIUS and LEARNING rescued from Despair:
At first, 'tit true, you could but just bestow
A Dew of Comfort upon letter'd Woe;
Yet did that Dew a lingering Life sustain,
Cheer the last pang, and soothe the bed of pain !
Gradual, but sure,. your purpose work'd its way,
An ample Bounty consecrates this day—
The Streamlet thus obscurely glides along,
'Till made by tributary Waters strong,
Each drooping Plant refresled, new vigour chews,
To grace the living River as it flows ;
Onward it rolls to meet the Ocean's tide,
And spreads a general Blessing far and wide !
Though other climes more genial Suns supply,
A purer Atmosphere, and clearer sky,
Amidst our gloomy Days and wintery Storms,
Bounty protects, and godlike Pity warms !
Though stern in War, and oft by Factions cross'd,
The Nation's character is never lost;
Humane slid manly, liberal, brave, and free,
Contending Parties in one point agree,
To feel the pathos of Misfortune's sighs,
And wipe the tear from pallid Misery's eyes !
Ilere Truth and Justice prompts the Muse to bring
Praise to our PATRON—homage to our KING !
Whose feeling heart has always wish'd to dry
The secret tear that dims Misfortune's eye;
Who, with a polish'd Taste and liberal Hand,
Spreads wide improvements, through his Natire Lend !
And, like AUGUSTUS, who embellish'd RozE,
Makes Grecian Arts his Denizens at home.
Where uncouth buildings met the public eyes,
Now spacious streets and palaces arise;
And THANES may soon behold, with conscious pride,
Another ATHENS rising on his side !
Arts cannot droop, nor Sciences despair, '
When ENGLAND'S Mosaacit makes their cause his care;
Nor GENIus pine neglected, and alone,
His all-accomplished PATRON on the Throne ;
Whose Sceptre's honour'd, as his sword was fear'd,
In War triumphant and in Peace revered !

On Thursday evening, the 12th inst., at Friar's-place, near
Acton, the lady of Charles B. Curtis, Esq., of a daughter.

MARRIED.
Yesterday, at Marylebone New Church, Thomas T. Grant,
Esq., to Emma, fifth (laughter of the late Richard Grant, Esq.,
of Russell-place, Fitzrov-square.
On the 11th inst., John Gafford, jun., Esq., of Poplar, to
Fanny, second daughter of George Pringle, Esq., of Stoke
Newington.
On Tuesday, the 10th inst., at Stepney Church, IL Godwin,
Esq., of Cobourn-terrace Bow-road, to Miss Picking, eldest
daughter of the late John Pickering, Esq., of Assembly-row,
Mile-end.

On Monda last DIED.
y , the 9th inst., by a fall from an open car.
riage, Mrs. Brodie, wife of P. B. Brodie, barrister-at-
law, of Lincoln's-inn-fields.
On the nth inst., in the 20th year of his age, John, ilwond
son of Thomas Flardy, Esck, Walworth.
On the 10th fist., at Kingston.upon-Thames, Susan Jolly,
wife of John Jolly, aged 7.