Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-25
k,aeEEBE
:" ncen w nnMAIN, 1850
AN ALLEGoIY.


y ancient timcs, Gro iNDvsrEY hal rcard
High mnrblo palaces for Man's uhoIc,
o. lt&NsoN lrl him through lilv's devious ways,
There was p beautiful aud airy spite
W W no'e eN 'y itanslGnt Thought he made his own
twas tho sghiug OF departing souls;
', hsh,ninss wcre ahioid-npon their flash
He saw the spirits of mis- fathers rijc;-
Aud when the loud AMI rolling thu1 lcts spoke,
Ito heard the decptoned voice of Deity.
70 his fair guide man gave The name OF FANcr;-
Aud tho the vcrlont paths thro' which she led
Ills wrnl'fing steps, were tangrd Oft with weeds,
Stl on'ucr sprang beneath his buoyan, tread
Bright howis as glowing az tho hucs of haav'n.
Another row'r w.,h Fancy, sh,t'd her reign.
i!e was Youth, whose face, ike Ap,il skios,
AHcrntto clou e. and sun-shnc-sniles and irowns--
Smoke of his changciul soul. Imp'fous,
lie bore his change az times TO Error srcalms-
But led him olncr To tho shrine OF Glory,
And prompted ircds of high aud noble daring.
His name was PAssioN.
Earth hoa'tcl then uymph call'j Porrpr,
Tho offspring ct their union, who conbind
Tho warm aud kinlling feelings of her sire
With Fancy's pow'r OF beautiful, creations.
Her fiy'tite haunt pure bubhling stream
Enund which her presence such cnchantmcnt threw,
That those who drank its waters were inspf'd
And made the world Tesound with melody.
Blu, FAsHioN camc, with her chameleon throng
And IN hcr train was maudn SENrfMEST
Beneath their steps the wild now'rs roop'd aud died.
And hu'h'd was oy'ry tunefnl iorcst,bird
hnn how'd beneath their scoptrc aud ohey'd,
With willing zeal, each frivolous behes,.
Tho Muse weeping by Castalia's fount:
she thought on all the past;-on former tmes,--
OF days when Heroes clad in wars array
Drank nom their hclmsts of tho sparkling wavo.
No longer natures highly gifted sons
came M the duwy morn or twilight gray
To hold communion with hcr. In their stead
With mincing steps, aud closely studied air
Tho POLISHED idlor loung'd around tho stream,
or with frantic stride, and furious gait
q maniac burst upon her solitude.
Tho misanthropn, At war with all mankind
The Bard ofMystery, whose syhil lines
Brcnth'd OF SHE spirit IF rOSs-bUd's Sigin
Were trooping onward To the sacred lount;
And the once quiet and secluded glen
Was noisy rs tho rahblo school-boys ground.
Well might the Muse sit weeping, aud recall
With hittertears hor by-g gone happy days.
Tho shades of ancient burds from bright thrones bent
And whilo Their dark and angry slancos lowrd
Upon the pabbling crowd, anon there
cloud of amber thFo' the fields Of hcav'n
That wrcuihd its folds around her fragile form
And bore her to the skies.
Few arc tho favourd mortals now, who find
The spring deep hidden liom tho vulgar gzc;-
But near its site there stands muddy pool
Whose brink with gaudy peoples is o'eigrown,
Whilst on the dwariish shrubs that round it spread
Screams the vain peacock in his loudeSt tones.
child of Eunui and Sentiment.
Who has nfsum'd the name of Poetry
sits by the sluggish waters, and invites
The motley throng To drink aud charm mankind
Her vopries blinded by the pos'nous draught
Pour their duh vor5iogc a scken'd worli,
believing that each rapid limo brcnthes forth
The purcst inspiration of the muse.