Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-06
MELVILLE.


butte to the worthy dead.
MELVILLE.
In conlmemOyation of,tAs Burning of the Thea
ire in RiehnOnGcn the 26th Of Decen,6er-.4.
D. 1911
Great God what horrors rise in thick and dread
array,
From yonaer spot, where oft the eniiyeuine
PLAY,
Where Gulect symphony and sentimental song.
Suspended care and charmed the admirine
throng
Once on that smould'ring. gloomy, melancholy
site,
Sage wisdom sat, intent on innocent delight:
and Godlise science there in rich profession
ppur'd
Her golden treasures on the enlightened cro,,d.
There Shakespeare tr,unpet-songu'd pronounced
his wizard strains,
And all the Eards and Muses. Cpd theirrich.
est veins.
There vivid Wit sent all her lightning flashes
And ahew'd in gay effusion her intrinsic worth.
OFT the sweet FAIRY cail'd the modest blush TO
And ting'd the maiden cheek with glowing red
and white.
Oft did she cause the smile of innocence to play
Around the rosy checks and pulpy lips of Nav.
There did bright fancy spread her nectar'd
. board Of bliss,
There had she golden dreams-thcre 6x'd her
paradise;
Display'd her scenes of novel joys in splendid
elew,
And in sweet vision form'd Reaeen below.
There often stalked the lofty Muse OF Tragedy.
With mien majestic, haggard form and dolcful
eye;
Despising death. or else in horror and dismav.
Struggling to hold the confines of retreating
day!
And when cacap'd the victims shriek-his fun
raj cry,
How oft have we bcheld godlike sympathy
Flow through the generous croud and heay'i the
feeling breast,
And give, the melancholic soul, an awful feast,
Fill the responsive bosom, crystalize the eve,
And make us mingle fates with him and wish TO
die
There too we've seen the 5astin'G Muse of no.
bic birth,
Display her angel charms and give them all to
Where .nowthe aspiring group of active youth
The science and the beauty once around Won
stage
Alas! disastrous fate! They've met borrid
doom,
BY one. fell crash sent headlong to burning
tomb
They've gone The rich, the poor, the mighty
and the weak expire,
Side by side, promiscaous in the SAVAGE fire
Youth and beauty, gepius, merit al are fed,
Husband and Wife and Children form mingled
dead!
In yonder flaming and capacious high-waH'd
Urn,
Reposo the mingled relics that we greatly
Inourn
Within the area of those burning walls there
No distinction-Thed dust Of nten alone re-
For Saith Virginia wccps in sad and death.
ike gloom,
Por here his payenf.feehrgs seapd his awful
doom
Yes, s~IFH, endow'd wish worth and talents
good and Sreat,
On this dread pyre receiv'd the cruel blow Of
He dies !--but on the wings Of flame his spirit
To meot his smiling God in yondcr azure skies.
Relations, dry your tears, for though your friend
He's rot far distant from bis heavily Fathers
throne.
Turn, Stranger, Turn, and view yoa spot our
Smith lies there
Deplore lis fate--and pay the tribute ofatearl
Thy virtues, VENABLE, hadnot the powerto save
Thy noble parsonage from the untimey grave.
Thy generous spirit---hallowed be Thy name,
Disdain'd q selfish rescue from the awful fame
And thou oh 30 rrs, too calm, zoo confident,
too sure,
RePosd on Hope, contcmned the elemental
roar
Disdain'd The lightsome confines Of the day 10
find,
~ 4 leave the darling object oftby love tchindl
ee ferrous man! Thy memory shall forever
~ Thy scater'd elements, ~ 7,me survive.