Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-01-05
FRoM rue Bosrow DEnocaArl.
ELEGY.

L
Now sinks my inch of candle from my sight,
| And solemn silence ihro' the cell prevails.
Save where the hungry rat with all his might
The MASSEY timber of the foor assails.
Save that, from yonder scanty heap of stra "
A muttcring wretch does to himself complain
Ofsncil as hold him in the tolls oflav.
To 'bide the doom Of ignominious pain.
beneath those molly rags, that tatter'd rug,
Where nithy insects, m>ny hundred creep
lose IN the warmest corner hudtllng snug,
he shaooy tenants OF the prison sleep.
The rear of m;rth tint shakes che tavern walls
The false dice ratt'ling in the Ieasherr box.
The horse-race din, or cards, or ivory balls
Noions er tempt hem to their custornti walks
Cor then no more shalt coming furnace burn.
sly engraver ply his score. c:,r-,
NO comrades watch their dubious return.
II squat around, the midnight spo;ls to share.
on cid the jockey to their cunningvicld.
lheirfngers oft the pond'rous locks have broko
low suii they led the captive horse sfeld.
low snug hid watches IN "a hollow oak
guile, "'''''S
heir petty schemes, 8: plans ofmcaner grade
!qr " 2est 6,7oa"' see with disdainful smile
scene oiH'tls yillainies disPly'd.
lots and conspracies against the state.
reason and aithe crimes OF higher scale,
he path of knavcry LEADS ou, - the i.a
'oF You. great rogoes, irnpatc to these the
# fIvor grants 20 them no sp,endid!.anzs,
Where bolts ne'er clanh, but scv',, bi,;l,f ,,,us
qnets fame,
AID privileged criminals WITH friends carouse.
Can honse ofbrick, two stories high, or more
lhe nicer'd wounds of broken ',onor cure
Fan hdrnish d bay'nets gleaminTat IN. door
0'esi'se misdemeanor, or make treason pcrc
PERHAPS n this neglected spo; is laia.
Some bosom, animated with " 6ess door
aands that some noble mischief might have
made, -
Aad wake TO rnu,ity a,.6isio1', brood.
But Faorro::, fortlci- use, her golden store
Enrirh'd with foreign brides, did ncv;,r one
uniearn d their heads possessed no Iersi lore
And cold neglect suppressed aspiring hoe.
Full many arogue with geniu. oFfisst rate.
me 'owiy SHADES of ignorance conceal,
ui' many SOU, that might o'erturn state /,
uFpatr'ni2'd' knows only how to steal.
Some village C1ienaz, that made truth = les,
And with sllrewd lies embroil't the town for
sport,
Some Park, unarrn'd by science, here may rest.
Some Se5friSse unprotected by the CT.
TIL applause of restless faction to command
a indignant voice of millions to de,p,se.
J o kindie discord in peaceful land,
and repd asunder unions sacred ties,
Their lot forbade nor circumscrib'd alone.
1heir growing wees, but their JOYS oonfin'd.
10 them luxurious ban1uets were INK own.
WIN these poor rogues their Judge has never
The pangs ofdisappointed views to hide.
Anq queneii regret in goblets of CLAN. al IN.
Or, at iile hsunts of luxury and pride.
Feast wiiP the sreaf, they wishid-but wis.,,f
in vain. 49,
:. -Abore che dpH parsaits oreivRAie,'4
ct FAR beneath ~, arts Of high intrigue.
ilghsy meddied not With mad ambitio,fs strife
Drank not success TO her InhslIow'dleague
Yet even these clowns fion thinking 10 prc.
tect, 5Y,i = Pi.'-
Some Som, lag. sign, suspended from on high.
WIN ru1s dssi. and clumsy figures deck'd.
in'ited all that hungry were, or dry.
There, fir, and pipes time irnncmoy Al snot,i
inc place OF claret an,l.s Ears su.piy't
And many drohe bis lay carca,t so,b,d
ern'a eoppsrs, or with bets his fortune try'd.
FOR who, 70 tipping Incidence prey,
III nfatuatinS habit e'er resignid.
Leit tDerwaFtp. bar-room on stormy dav.
NOT cast one longing, lingering look behind,
On some strong draught, duh ie,,,,c,, rei;es
some cheering drops tic warrant rogue re-.
quircy. ~
Ev'n fom his throat the voice of bsbi, er;L.
hv'n % iiis face seen distemperd fires.
r q, thee, who thus, IF poor a4frroy'd knaves,
lSost condrscehd the story to relate. p,
Whshe,e some curious enquirer ogaTcs,
be SAD narration ofthy luckicss fste.
Perhaps some curly headed 5ov viii say.
OFT have we eni5iE in Writer'S moen.
nc PlapVsorpts, design'd lortype, survey,
ana chew hrs pen, ~ constant scrbbIing
Then al the frc side. With mos, anxious ro.ir.
] VII, Wn',e on INC windWS beat lie railing hail.