Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-10-17
"Mucn Yrr REMAINS uSsvso."-CorI
from the Boston Bulletin.
TIE PAST AND PRESENT,


TIE PAST AND PRESENT.
Lines ascrbcd to the memory of beloved VITO.
"7he past looks from the sowRfL eye,
The beauty @ our free and reraai days" .
Art at my threshold, Dcath.-oh! tread il not;
have no more for thy rcmorsolcss bow,
A tomb thore is-thc past hath over-hllcd
With thy sad trophies from our mourning hearth.
We gave till all gone. And still cricst ''sivoi"
Spoilers of human bliss! Thou seck'st the bud,
That, fearful OF thy stop meath w-,horn oaf
Early covers down; lost in the chill of eve,
Thy spectre stride perceive its tmid blush,
t And pluck S !. 70, thy partner All! too true,
And we, usurious borrowers, on thee lean.
But what, stern angel what with me?-wil no,
The coral chords that broke about my heart
sufieos- All! no, so one dear form remain,
Loves last solacc, thou still uuappcasd.
OF all Thy breath hath fann'd. So have feared
The dcws that hover on thy sable wing,
wooed, aud hid it my painting breast,
Aud babe lie still, till that should cease to beat
~ this be Yielded what assurance brnyst,
Thy sick ming shades will not return long,
S,S Their s SassSS ;', w my ssP Of '''
" The past" is ON thy raven plumage writ
In letters torn from bcauty's latest pail!
Tho past-ihe past-,sth its rcmsmber'd load
OF veal and woe, comes like tho Incubus,
And hcavcs its mountain weight on the full soul,
OF inward anguish journey down the cheek.
Mute tcnd OF Ercbus. a time there
Ere thou vert niased-all my bouyan, hopcs
Were made of purplc.-liko yon glorious tint
That morning culls to dash her robe withni,
She waves her chariot forih-and gaiy twincs
Her rcns with flowers, and mounts for hankless mani
My gorgeous picture, formed Of ovey hue
Youth, fancy led,-enthusiast loved:
Aye, wcpt for ecstacy. Richly encascd
In brigb, and gaudy promisc,-knelt aud kiss'd,--
Then hung it in the skies! But ha, DIS
Reach'd il e'en there; and now-its charms arc nou
did but think to mourn its tmcless fate
That tears were legal o'er the PROSTATE walls,
And tottring towers, and crumblins battlcmonts,
Where Joy had sat and wound her golden horn;
so, whcnmy air-bult turreis bowed to dust,
Aud gushing sorrows the ruin strcam'd-
My heart, unwisc, groan'd forth its murmuriugs-
Too loud rcpincd-was heard IN angry heaven,
And thou art sent to rcnd the wrecks away!
o. lovely loved, aud los, one? What can signs.
The present, uttors Ger thy clay avail
Though pning grief may hofI her vigs pale,
That eye, that gentle tprm,IaIo with the pa't;-
TO tell its distant one, how love should last,
Mingcs with viewcss choirs beyond yon inches vast.
Tho present. Now its madining fever comos
Like Afric'S fiery brcezes, cross brow,
To tell how sure tread the desert now.
Whilst Mcmry, ihintng on her pearly throne,
Points me thy recent grave, and IN bow
Embrace its iurf-bfeatless as 'twcro my
1f'aId phans be grocn,-Siroc overblown!
OH no-the future counts counsel star,
In nll her sparkling casket, meant for mc-
All have shown ont-hc last made of thco!
Hence, through liies murky night, power maypr
To this drear bosoms of agoay,
Nor know how patient borne, the worm can lie,
That has nor Will to res-nor wisb strength die!
Two heard thee say, that Time hath iron teeth,
Al last would vanquish grief IL might be uoe--
And coil him in the hearts dear Citadel
There gorge viands hope ne 'cr renew,
And when the feast is dissipate rebel
Bid fate each wheel arest-Death the banquet dwell.
What shall the future bring'-To Him cave
Tho mystic page, who framed US are,
And wait his sacred seal. Before my God
Ibend, and seek TO bend with duteous tears,
And hail him Father! All things promp; me
Each herb, and sttoam and plant;-the messy sward,
Where OF won thy velvet tread at eve,
Lest our own footsteps should o'cr hear our vows.
And when pray him, let my rivals shed
Their ilikept woes since graves are not in hcav's,
A whisper trembles each dewy leaf
"Woop my son, on that thou wilt Dds thine,
,Iis thine, my parted love! And these gall drops,
Thy faithful bosom's tribute-sh II be paid.
That matchlcss breast that owned M lord.
Now corporate with earih-wil sounder sleep,
SO forget not ON my pillows check,
Since thine is over fled, to pour my grief
Rest rest thee then.-and though deaths rul,uro bird
Flaps his black pinions my startled heart,
Bears Off my flower aud clcavcs the midnight skies
hear voice paternal, seems to say,
Ny lily shall not dic!-on greener plains
Than mortal eyes aud livc-transplant,
And gitrring midst tho fair, its buds shall burst,
And And Gods own breath persuade TO bloom anew.-
Rest dearest! rost,-the worm to bequcath
Iujnsparing mcm'ry feeds. o. tits not ills,
Wrongs, suf rings, crosscs-pressnt come
Can move my stubborn forehead TO be sad;
These could be sternly bomc But 'tis tos,-.y,
Homeless and hopeless, round our iav'rite haunts--
Count every buried bliss-and frantic, SEQ
Eternal phan,oms of the happy past,
Thy sleep be blcssd! lone shall beat for thee,
The lcaden pulses of heart, that sunk
Sgo-but whither?-Know not care not-forth,
Forth, on world shall die ITSELF anon;
But first, III brush those upsurt weeds away,
That should not ngor near mound SO now.
Rost too my humble Tyre. at length un,uned;
Be these sad notes the last that leave thy stringsl
Go and with other joys, dwell with the past,
5cannot-mast not, Drcashe thy chords along,
is gone TO brighter halls. on has the tear
Hung on her auburn lash when did sing;
The sweetest boon cuved. That spell is broke,
E No lime ne so meet we part my wand'rngs hence
That flinss is mufied folds DER ali iir eyrs cd
Gan mantle thcej- take then this teap- and rest
Rest gcntle spirit! Till mine, rushing comes,
hSe sSGk wy s, 81 To path sh. Of my hopO'
ms parting hand IL waved to them, and thee.