The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-04-03
CARoLiNUs.
EIyGY

MAJ SAhOLtN VI. 4
ELJSY
On the Fatal Confaryay6n OF the Richn,ona IKea.
tire, on the night otHDecean6ey Goth, 1911.
Whether the cheer6l Sun shall gid the day,
Or dark DeceDYer wrap the world IN Shade;
Whether the ntxf put on her black array, 4e
Or moon-ligE 'weetiy sleep along the glade -
Still, broodls DER these seorch'd and erumblins
Shall Melancholy hold her Lonesome reign
While hro' the lapse Of time the scene recalls
rgAt Of dcsoation, woe, and pain.
AZ fatal ruins +! Pleasures former dome, ~
And now her grave Alas, that sad night
dow many eFta safe and peaceful home,
4 No more TO hail the morris returning light!
Amusement cheats the hours ;--they swiftly roll;
Her eye, her list ming ear, attention lends,
Till sable Midnight, dress'tiin siively stole
Her silent empire DER the world extends.
Silent' Alb no the horril cry of FIRE"
Wakes from enehantmsnt deep, the brilliant
and :. smoke, and pickering flame, and sparkles
.E.sls-tlre," On ~ = ~
Burst forth and roll the hollow vaults along.
What language shall disclose, what tongue shall tell.
What heart conceive the horrors Of the hour,
When, in proinlscuolis fiery ruin, fell IA
Sage wisdom, youth, and beauty's blooming
fow'r!
The flames, with dismal glare. and rubbing sound,
And wrapt 10 smothcinng yapour, urg their
way;
The black ming volume swes, and rolling round,
Spreads, as 1t passes, death and deep dismay
Where were ye, plying Angels, in that hour,
When these poor victims lost their vital
breath i(2)
Stood We aioof, obedient to that Pow'R
w no makes the flames his nninist ers of death
What mingled screams resound within the walls
ne ciy ct Wild alright, of dark despair
What grief without! what agouizing calls
King sirili and doIefuI thro' the midnight air,
See yonder lovely form !-st close ofeven,
Array d IN beauty smiling charms, she came,
Like Hesper beanrlng on the brow of Heay,n-,
NOW wrapt In vapour dense, and sInould'ripe
flame! .f-s'- l-so
Here cries the parent-there brother calls.
yH And, urged by desperation, flies to save
All vain attempt. the lovely victim fails,
And sinks with numbers in burning grave
But who, alas, the weigl,ty task shall try,
To paint each scene of Individual woe
To mark the rending heart, the Streaming eve.
In all the dear relations known Glow 49, s..
Sec! Will. tremendous blaze I, e flames ascend, T.
Within, a fearful, deathiul sience reigns--
a..
Shine on the waves, aud strike the distant plans
lIingling their echoes with the mo,,nful cries
The deep-ton'd bells resound with solemn tolls
Aloag tie streets the awtui warning flies,
Tn ALARM OF FIRE, and knell OF parting soulsi
But ali, the little span of hope is gone
In VAN the anxious crowd attend the sound
DeasIi sies ~ triumph on his burning throne,
And black despair and horror reign around.
The work of death is domestic flaming pyre
Sinks down III ashes, inngling will, tie dead:
While fierce combustion folds his wings of fire.
And stefnly slunibers on the scorclsing he'd
The weeping night wi,hdraws her shadow, train,
And either kindlcs with the rising morn:
But here, alas deeper ngbt shall reign,
Till flie bright resource tiOn-day shall dawn.
How chang'd the scene since last The golden rov
Oh parting light on Ritharond'S tui-rets play'd
When hnmm'd the cadence sweet cf closing day,
And Pi.as'ife fond!y haipd tn advancing SHADE.
No "giearn Of gladness brchtens" thro' the c,o1
Returning morn no cheerful accent hears
Death Der lie city draws lis sable shroud.
And eyry face the veil Of sorrow wears
Where Pleasures temple lately met the eve.
The sad sepulciuh monument shall rise
And Seh thc pensi'e tfay'lidr, passing by,
How ir;dl The hopes OF man below the skicsi
An'' long shall Mcm'ry, lingering round the place,
Pause toudiy, still the well known voice 70 hear
And fundly l,OE, to see the well-known face
And v-si.sAd form OF iiiend or kindred dear.
But friend aud Kindred, wrapt ~ mortal gloom.
No more shall rise from Deaths enchanted bed.
TN eaugs the arch-angcc trump of doom,
And J'esks the iron slumber of Che dead
Mock not, thou sscptie vain, with eye asLsnce
Turn'd 0f thc pile where bones and ciiplers lie ,
NOT east one 'm3ious, unbeGcyiDg glance
On tfiat ALMIGHTY poWR WHO rules ON high.
What task can pov'r almighty not perform,
o. y s,ut resist tie Asi-creatine hand
Wit. equa; esss S;' G,cei or psfas