Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-01
XII

XII.
But what unlook'd for horror hath ,,.,.
why Is exer'ion check d--whv stand IN, !
In that uncertain, li>,I-ss attitude, NV 0'l
Their painting limbs aud energies co,,,,v.,
By some appalling sigh, may no, he ,nId.
Whence is that long aud tgoniz,,y xs,
What can so vast a cOncour>p ,en, Lnl,r
At once the ficrcest uncntb'd oa>si,,. o.r
And rob the loose bIaspnemer Of an oath f ,',.
XIII.
see poor wretch dangling from bsau
Fix'd "a victim on a funeral pvrr.
Vain human effort! Vain were Thames t,r
stream! 'Va
Beneath him gows bath Of liquid f..
As hot as b,sot mercy could desire:
The Qui,erins flames sill higher. L,oh..
As human hate their fury did inspire. ~
lie ~ri'hes, and, shrivelIins DER the for,,.
And the rude mob avert their terrorlcsin; e,,,
And silence broken with one renainy vsu
Doth sleeping streets awaken aud ALARM.
Aud thus, releaS'd from thar borri6c smell
That courage con'd control and passion "a,
Again to iabour raise the ponderous arm
Oath echoes oa;h-around the engines sr,,,
With cumulative cheer, the wilin. swarm.
Again the hose Is strand, the waters aor
And boiling torrents bubble Ger the waste n, =,
XV.-
Alas! what wrctched victims ar. therr mo,.,
or the fierce flames another hou.e III. ore,
Upon the kindliBg pile The engines pour: =
Within, the intrepid tiremrn burst their ~,
And just in time, a mother in di,mav,
Seeking her child, dscover-scor,hJ ,,3
wet.
They bear her from the famin. pile away:
Bu, she nor fire nor child shall e'er lorp.t
And it, maniac's cell sril burns, and sack. 81,
yet.
XVI.
No earthly solace can her bosom heal.
All. save the memory Of that night. /, Gel;
Cold, thirst, nor hunger, seems she FER To- lsI
Ausht here. or aught hereafter. seem. To dread
Bat lives for one sad la,k-cea.eleSs to tread
And search her eio"my cell and pallet DER
Sleep DER her mud may sometimes happy sa,l
Forsetfulness but waking, eve,more
I'LL sleep again returns, size doth her ell es
plore.
What fancies sometimes women will brTall,
4 beauteous maiden shrinkin. from the .l.I,
Of the loose raboie, croochd beneath wall;
Though nearly senseless with excessive rght.
She would not trust her beauty TO the light:
To hide her half clad figure all her care;
The wall began to totter in its height.
And scarce for mercy had she breath pas.
When with crush it fel-but unseath'd leibt'
there.
There motionless she stood, like chisell'd so1s,
D-veInp'd her full form 10 the red glare;
A silk shawl, o'er her Lowell shoulders thrown,
Was all that screen'd her from the eager star
Of the loose rabbe-ye. no jest was there,
But the sad sight a~cd the vast multitude,
And scarce from weeping many could forbear;
All wondering gaz'd-so quietly she stood.
Nor deem'd that horror had her faculties sub
dued.
XIX.
At length. reyi'ing, she at once deserted
The gazing multitude; away she flew,
And Jashns all who'd check her course aside
Quick from their wondering eyes her lore
Withdrew;
One only did her naked steps pursue,
One. only one, among the many there,
r" his vocation, spite Of pity. true,
Tracked her sad step, unto portal. where
H. suatch'd her shawl and LETT her lovely hsli
XX.
In ouiek succession scencs OF horror pass.
Aud sishis-scen sin.!y might hrcom" p
OF memnrv--i fade. ike shadows IN e'a's.
And are forgotten: so. the brave 81 heart
Though Death before them, clo'h'd m teri" ",'
Fear not. -whi'e the p"or tr'sb'ed en"a'" 81
At the but distant waving OF hls dart;
Use makes the COW ard brave. th' l"''''h wiz
And calls forth all our natures latent ia'ull''s
XXI.
And the rough ragged heroes Of Ibis night
For deeds Of daring, long endurr. toll
Deserve eternal fame: even in despite
Of those low vices that far hcrsr s"t'
And shine IN their rude culture. as The loh
Where patience. courage. honest wofth are"