The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-05-13
1Doctrp.
AN ELEGY,

The Iowne, herd wind slowly DER the lea;
The n,o,yx,n bomewards plods his weary way,
And leaves the world TO darkness ana 10 me-
Now fades the glimmring landscape on the sight,
And all the air a solemn stiffness holds,
save where the beetle wheels his drony hight
And drowsy tnklings iull the distant folds;
Save that from yonder ivy mantled tow'r
rhe moping owl does to the moon complain
Of such, as wandring near her secret bow'r,
Molest her ancient solitary reign
Beneath those rugged elms, that ycw trees shade,
where heayes the turf in many molildring heap,
zach ia his morrow cell for ever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep
The breezy call of incense breathing morn,
The swallow twitt'rng from the straw-built shade,
The cocks shrill clarion, or the echonS horn
NJ, more shall rouse them from their lowiy bed
For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn,
Or busy housewife ply her ev'ning care
No children run to lisp their slrc's return,
Or Climb his knees the enyld kiss to share
Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield,
Their furrow Oft the stubborn glebe has broke
How jocund did they drive their team a-feld
How bow ID the woods beneath their sturdy stroke.
lie, not ambition mock their useful toll
Their homey Joys, and destiny ob cure
Nor landeur hear, with disdainful smile;
The short and simple annals Of the poor.
T. boast OF heraldry, the pomp OF pow'r,
And lA that beauty, all that wealth Ger gave,
Awlii IKE IN meyitabis hour.
The pains Of glory lead but to the grave.
Nor YOU, We proud, mputc TO these the fault,
Ii nemrs DER their tomb no trophies raise,
Whee thro' the ong:drawn lie and fretted vault
Tie peaIng anthem swells the note of praise.
Can storied urn or animated bust +"
Is. * to its mansion call the heetng breath
Can nonor's voice provoke the silent dust,
Or hatt'ry sootbe the dull cold car Of death
Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid
Some heart pregnant with celestial fire
Hands, that the rod OF empire might have swayd,
Or wak'd TO ecsacy the living Tyre.
But knowledge to their eyes her ample page
Ricn with the spos Of time did neer unroll
Chill penury repress'd their noble rage,
And frOze the genial current OF the soul
Full many gem Of purest ray serene,
The dark unfahom'd caves OF ocean bear 4
Full many how'r is born TO blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desart air.
Some village Hampden, that with dauntess breast
The little tyrant of his fields withstood
Some mute nglorious Milton here may rest;
Some Cromwell gutess of his country's blood.
4 1Is-,...A,,.~ or hor'u 'uius -.~-.~.~s ,o command
The thT .a,s OF pam and ruin to despise,
TO scotter plcnty DER smiling land,
And read their hist'ry in nations eyes,
Their TO forbade nor circumscrit'd alone
Their growing yftucs, but their crimes conhdd;
FORBADE wade thro slaughter to a throne,
Ard shut the gates OF mercy on mankind.
The struggling pangs Of conscious truth to hide
T. quench the blushes of flngenuous shame
Or heap the shr,ne of luxury and pride
With incense kindied at the muses. flame
Far from the m4dding crowds ignob.c strife.
Their sober wishes never learnt 10 stray;
Along the cool sequestc,'d vale of life
They keep the noiscless tenor of their way
Yet evn these bones from insult 10 prot, CT
Some tral memorial sui erected nigh,
With uncodlh 'hymes and snapGess sculpture deckd
impiore the p"ssi18 tribute OF a sigh.
TheiF name, their years, spe by tn unlcterd muse
The place ol fam. and ,iegy supply:
Aud many holy text around she strews,
That teach the rustic moralisl TO die
For who 10 dunD forge fulln.ss prev,
Tins pleasing anX,oas bcior e'cr rcsEn'd
l'eit the watin Tr.o,ncts ot the cheerful day
Nor casl one longing ing ring look behind
On some fond breast the pairing soul relics.
some p'ous drops the closing eye ,equires
r. ~ from .he tomb the voice of nature cr;es
Eyn IN our ashes live their wonted fires
For thee, who mlndful of tn unhonor'd lead
Dost IN these lines their aftess ale relate
III chance, by lonely contemplation led
some Nndred spirit shall enquire thy fate.
Hapy, some hoary-headed swan NAV say
vi nave we seen him at the peep ut dawn
Brushing with hasiy steps the dews away
10 meet the sun upon the upland lawn.
There at the foot of yonCer nodding beech
mat wreathes ITS old fantastic roots SO high,
HIS iistless length at noon tide would he stretch,
And pore upon the brook that bubbles by.
Hard by yon wood. now smiling as in scorn
:" Mutt'rin his wayward fanccs he would rove,
Now dropping. woful man. like one forlorn,
craz dwith care, or cross'd i'm hopeless love
One morn niss'd him on the custom'd hl
Along the heath and his fAv'rite tree
Another came nor yet beside the rill,
nor up 1he lawn, nor at the wood was he
. The next, wlh dirges due and sad array,