Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-07-20

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those wondrous developments of infinite power
ana the exercises OF devoutly contenp!a;ive :
ihateur, who commingles with the demonstration
OF omnipo'eTee the exuberant proofs of Divin
mercy with Which soar Father who is in Heaven
still beauties and enrches the world. N,
bRYAN's elegant poem will edity as well rs in
struci.-New York RJion.
STRAINS OF THE GRoTTo:
COMMEMORATIVE OF VIEWERS CAVE.
PRoEM.
W. bile more aspiring minstrcls scet
The fowcry vale and mountain peak
And there the tarcs,il sisters WOO
whose Pinions, batacd IN morning dew
Are waving in celestial light,
p p' with balm, and plumcd for flight;
We mine, IN this deep cavcrn's gloom
Where rcigns the silence of the tomb
TO rouse its gcnii from the cells
Where everlasting darkness dwclls
And win from thcm in their own fairy SONG
Inc thoughts that TO these neither realms brIonr
Awake, yc vicwlcss tribes awake,
Your sparry chambers now forsak,
And here, in this majestic hall
Attend TO beauty's friendly call
She bids her minstrel strike the lvrc
Il nat your own presence may insnir,.
hhat your own swcctcr strain may ioin
ms lay, while she cxclaims, .siiy
But bark! he hears their dusky WINS
lie hears them tune their tnkline stri,ys
And now thousand joyful echoes swell
Inc melodies they pour from harp and she'll
SONG OF THE cENII.
We come from Our homes in the bosom of ,,.
10 welcome the strangers who visit our ,ynrd
ran oisPrnS OF light! whose unfortunate birth
occurs where the banner of day is unfurld
Foor beings OF sunshine /! but little We know,
vi the bliss that our happy domnions afford
vi the pleasures perennial and various that fow
Ahf0"sh inc regions which moralS have never cxplor
Think not that our visondm sighted like theirs leu
nv, Is here ihicky Siirondcd in curtains of night:
MAJ beauty S extinct, that Splcndour anprors
mere the sun scattcrs his fierce deluxe Of Ih
w borrow no lustrc from earth or from IL ;eS ST.
n u ycl III 'hesc Chambers OF grandeur VIC find
y radiance more splendid than visits your ewes
The radiance that flows from the fountains OF mind
IL rs THIS that lumines these regions sublime
When the glory that circles our e!ttcr;n@ sn,rs
o"yshiheS au The spheres in the orbits of time
1t is this view iii heii Ib beauty ;G2y aid adaH0ess
ihesc scenes which your mountains and Iandscapcs
Arrays them in tints which rainbows nor roses
MOI a"sht can compare with in garden sky.
o think not the confines that limit our range
~, Are 100 narrow Tor mansions OF freedom and bliss
me WIDE world you tenant can boast of no change
IromotIVc OF pleasures we have not in this
nor deem that your notions of distance and space
n are inc same That our spiritual essences owns
Our transports are never dependent on PLACE
point is our Kingdom, an atom our throne!
Your finite perceptions exhibit no test
vi the channels through which our felicity hows.
WITH millions on millions of these VIC arc best
~ W nose cNhaustiess supplies unminglcd with woes
The perIshng senses to you that belong
But family resemble our inlcts of low
" nose vivid impressions, unading and strong
Are sources OF transport which never can Glow
Where reigns 70 your hearing silence profound,
The harps Of our minstrcls, cnchantingIy sweet
Atuned TO the relish of spirits, resound
And myriads of echoes their warbIinq rcpcot
But the bonntiui charter of freedom. we hold
is not TO these beautiful regions confined
III extends where the landscapes of Eden unfold
And Is bounded alone by the limits of mind.
Our hcctncsS surpasscs the swiftncss of LIGHT
in moment we compass the circuit of stars
The stream that diScoscs The meteor of nisht
is tardy, compared with the flash of our cars
Our iood is the perfume of paradise flowers,
49, Our drink is the exquisite nectarinc dew
hat oa'hes IN IFS sweetness the bloom of those bowers
where angels with fragrance their pinons Undue
From centre TO surface, this planets our home
-, ne sources OF occan-thc mountains deep bases
me treasures which lie where the monsters
And regions the fancy of man never traces
tous are as free as yor@iclds to you;
y ana all with the means of our happiness lraugh,
Unfold succession OF scenes to orr view,
That forever abound in sources of thought
Frail beings of sorrow we pity your doom,
But still there is balm in your bttcrcst draight;
For cen though Affections must wi;her Your bloom
And the poison of death by your bodies be quancd-
Vet virtue and holy religion can save
. our spirits from tortnrcs eternal domain
Can bid you in triumph ascend from the grave,
ARD dwell where the God head forever Shall reign,
EpoDE.
1hc minstrel band have closed tlicr Law
And Silence here her sway
Her reign how awful end profound,
AS through these vaults aud cavcrns round
She spreads gloom that rivals death
And makes us startlc at orr breath =
What is the stiilpcsss known on earth
Compared with that which here gives birth
10 Fancy's darkest, widest brood
Alarms the soul, rcycrts the blood,
Forth on the view bids spcctrcs start
Bcnumbs the limbs and chs the heart
THERE, cen at midnight's stilIcst hour
The zephyr sports in rusung bower,
The ripping brook goes bubbng on
The night dog pours his hungry moan,
And proving birds on iluttering wings,
With other wild and natncless things
Disturb the slumbcrng worlds rcposc
With irolc notes and uttered woes.
But HEGg--as though prmcval gloom
Was brooding over natures tomb
As Though created life was dead,
And Night and Silence in its stead
Such rs ere planets shonc,
Rcgncd through chaotic space alone
Had from their punishment rcturn'd,'
And were in these deep vaults inurnd
The stiffness is profound and drcar,
Save when, our shuddcrng hearts to cheer,
We break The wizard leader chains
With our own altered, cchoing strains
Not cen The deep riobthcl carnon's peal
Nor thunder's voice, when mountains reel,
And oceans depths are tcmpest-stirr'd
Arc in these vast reccsscs Heard.
But list that litilc tinklrg sound
Which makes the silence more profound
| Drop after drop, like fairy bell,
il slowly rings from yOndcr cell;
! And well it might to Fancy's car,
The sound of fairy's harp appear.
/ As if with light aud tiny wings
He softly touched the golden strings