Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-08-11
POETRY.


POETRY.
The following Monody is from the gifted pen
Of Daniel Bryan, Esq. the well known author
of the "Lay Of Gratitude" and the "Appeai:
The avails of the latter poem were approPrr'
ated by the acthor to the benefit OF the unior-
tuna,e bard, while he yet lived Magnet
From HE North american.
sTANzAs ocCAsIoNED BY THE DEATH OF
THE BOSTON BARD.
To Collins grave We gentle barls repair,
whose bosoms, free from envy's cankerng bane
Have mourned to see his youth Overwhelmed by care
And his too tender heart consumed by pam.
Be yours the kindly Office there to chant
requium DER his spirits broken shrine;
With pious hand the deathless laurel plant,
And round his harp unwithering garlands Irvine,
But in your tuneful laws, We hgh.soul'd few!
Let not one melancholy murmur blend
Nor battle his aowery tomb with sorrows dew
For death 10 Coffin was-indeed-afrend!
Away! We proud, We cold, unfeeling throng,
Whose closed against his suffering cries:
Who heard no music in his plaintve song,
Nor mourned the tears that dimmed his dying eyes
Whose hearts to PHYS melting touch was scared
When she, in his behalf with honest zeal,
a 4
And swept her Tyre, and pouredher warm appeal
Away! nor dsre approach the poets grave!
Your breath would blight the roses fragrant blooms
That Ger its verdant turf in beauty wave,
And shroud his silent harp in chilling glooms!
still grovel in your low and sordid task,
And grpe and gather hosrds of useless ssss gold;
Or in the moonshiuc beams OF rohy oasS' Nm
here ali 10 hgsutfSsS, empty, VAIN anu coIo'
Your names shall perish in obhvion's night
when Coffin's-freed from every mortal stain
Shall shine with quenchless and increasing light,
Embalmed in his own pure and cherished strain.
With all your weath--with all your pomp and pride
That poor neglected child of song and wo,
Fen at his humble fortunes lowest tide,
Had worth your niggard breasts can never know.
In all the irving scenes through which he passed,
The golden virtue most approved by Heaven
In his afflicted heart was rooted fast,
And thence by mortal powers could ne'er be riysR'
With CHAnirr divine his bosom glowed- .
He felt brothers love for all manknd;--
Hist for human freely howed,.
And selfish feelings ne'er debased his mind.
Call If YOU please the poets frailties-crimes--
He wore the robe that hdeth countless sin,
That in the eve of God the soul submes,
And Mercy's smile--a heavenly passport wins.
Cast unprotected on lfe's tborny wild
In tender youth, with feelings finely strung
Severest ills assaed the minstrel child
And every FIBRE of his bosom wrung.
If in the moment ofhis naddenng pangs
He sought in Ieths's food with headlong speed,
To drown his woes, numb their aspic fangs,
Shall man, relentless damn the thoughtless deedr
Say, Christians! must the ll.starred poets fame
Receive the enduring impress of disgrace;
And like some wretched felon's guilty Bame;
BE seorned and hated BY a Christian race
Let him whose hands are undefled by sin
And safely mailed in virtue, seize the brand,
The poets honour stamp-and join the din
BY which the victim OF reproach are banned.
To you parting word, We generous bards
Who knew your brothers failings and forgave:-
You female mourners claim your kind regards,
Whose anguished Sosoms press the poets grave.
That aged woman grey with time and
Is weeping DER the offspring OF her ove
To soothe her sorrows bid your numbers fows
Andbear her hopes to you bright worlds above.
Theretoo, with many tender grief oppressed
The minstres's sister breathes her mournfu signs;
The task be yours to calm her troabled breast,
And heal with gentle art its broken ties.
For what meet to assuage the bitter pains
Of those to whom poets life was dear,
As are a poets sweet condoling strains,
His generous kindness, and his heartfelt prayerf
In this, we youthful votsries of the Tyre,
Make Collins verse the model of your lays
He scorned to fan Ambitious guilty fire,
Or pamper crimes to win a short lived praise.
While all the stings the poets frsltes bore,
In his own bleeding breast their fortunes sped,
Like perfumes from the gardens howery store
His tuneful virtues far abroad were spread.
Dear Woman! cherish in thy tender breast
kindly feeling for the buried Bard,
For in his strain--his sweetest and his best
Thou old'st the 6rst-the most endeared regard!
And well thou maySt--s er on his whitening heart,
Thou dd'ss the balm OF cheering mercy shed,