Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-03-02

% published. Geo.
ODE TO EASE.
never bent at glory's shrine,
To wealth inevet bowed the kneo;
Beauty has heard no VOWS of minc,
love thee, Ease, and only thee:
Beloved of the Gods ana mon,
Sister OF JOY aud liberty,
When wilt thou visit inc again.
In lonely wood, or silent glen,
BY falling stream, or rocky den,
Lake those whore once found thcc, WHOM,
Despite the ills of poverty,
And VISIONS warning prophecy,
listened to thy siren voice,
And made thee mistress of my choice.
chose thee, Ease, and glory fed,
For mo no moro her laurcls spread,
Her golden crown shall never she'd
It's ooains OF splcndour round my hcud;
Aud when within the narrow bed,
10 iarnc aud memory over dead
My wrotched corsc is thrown:
No stately column, ssulpturcd bust,
Nor urn that holds within its trust,
The poor remains OF mortal dust,
Nor monumental stone,
Nor willow, waving ia the gale,
Nor feeble fence with whitened pale,
Nor rustic cross, memorial tTail,
Shall mark the grave own.
Noloity deeds in armour wrought,
No hidden truths in science taught,
Noundiscovered regions sought
Nor classick page with learning ffau.h,.
Nor eloqucnce, nor verso divine,
Nor daring speech noe high design,
Nor patriotic act OF mine,
On history's page shall ever shine;
hut 10 all future ages Inst,
Not cvon n wreck, tra'lit,on-tos
or what was when valued most
by the few ifioHds whose love boast,
la amer years, shall noat to shore,
And serve 10 toll tho name bore.
chose thee, Ease and wealth withdrew
Indignant at tho choice | made,
And To her first resentment true,
My scoIn with ten.iold scorn repaid.
Row not palace, lony dome,
Or cheerful, hospitablc home,
ARE comforts must nevsr know:
My enemies shall meier rcpino
At poinp ar Pageantry of mine,
Nor prove, by bowins at my shrine:
Their souls are AFFECT, base and low.
No wandering crowd shall ever stand
With gazing eve aud waving hand,
10 mark my train, aad pomp, and show:
\ And, worst of all, | shall not live
To taste the pleasures wealth can give,
When used toS Iothe another's wo.
The peasants OF my native land
shall nevor praise my open hand;
No wandering bard shall celebrate
His patrons hospitablc cato:
No war-worn soldier, shattered tar,
Nor exile driven from aiar,
Nor haplcss fcicnd OF former years,
Nor widows prayers nor Orphans tears,
Nor helpless age relieved from cares,
Nor innocence preserved from snarcs,
Nor houseless wanderer clothed and icd,
Nor slave from bitter bondage led,
Nor youth To noble actions bred,
Shall call down blessings on my head.
l chose thee, Ease! aud yet the while,
So sweet was beauty's scerniul smile,
So itausht with every lovely wilo,
fet seemingly so void OF guile,
Ii did but heightcn all her charms;
And Gol1pxs had \ lnyed thoc than
But with the common love OF men,
My tickle heart had changed again,
Even at the very moment, when
l wooed thee to my longing arms:
For never, may hope to meet
smilo so sweet, 80 heavenly sweet.
chose thee, EdsG aud now for me,
No heart shall ever londly swell,
No voice of soothing melody
Awake the Music breathing shell;
Nor tongue OF rapturous HARMONY
Its love in tailoring accents tell;
Nor flushing cheek, nor lansuid eye,
Nor sportivc smile, nor artlcss Sigh,
Confess affection all as well.
No snowy bosom's fall aud rise,
shall e'er again enchant my eyes;
No melting lips, profuse of bliss,
Shall ever greet me with n kiss:
Nor blumy breath pour in mine car
The tribes love delights To hear;
But living, loveless, hopeless l.,
cninourned and unbclovcd must die.
chose thee, Ease, aud yet to me,
Coy and ungratclul thou has proved
Though have sacrificed TO thee,
Much that was worthy to be loved.
But come again. and will yet,
fhe past ingrattude forgot:
on come again. thy witching powers
shall claim my solitary hours:
Nith thee to cheer me, heavenly queen,
And conscience clear, and health serene
And friends, and books, TO Danish spleon,I
My life should be, as il had been,
A sweet variety of joys,
Ana giory's crown, aud beluty's smilo
Ana treasured houfds should seem the while
The idlest of all human Toys.