For Misery stole me at my birth, Take home thy Child ! On thy dear lap these limbs reclined, Resembling me. Hark!-a strange sound affrights mine ear; My pulse,-my brain runs wild,-I rave; Ah! who art thou whose voice I hear ? “ I am THE GRAVE! « The GRAVE, that never spake before, Hath found at length a tongue to chide: O listen ! I will speak no more : Be silent, Pride! “ Art thou a WRETCH of hope forlorn, By fell despair ? « Do foul misdeeds of former times Wring with remorse thy guilty breast ? And ghosts of unforgiven crimes Murder thy rest ? “ Lash'd by the furies of the mind, From Wrath and Vengeance would'st thou flee? Ah! think not, hope not, Fool! to find A friend in me. “ By all the terrors of the tomb, Beyond the power of tongue to tell ! By the dread secrets of my womb ! By Death and Hell ! “ I charge thee LIVE!-repent and pray: And sin no more. 66 Art thou a MOURNER ?-Hast thou known The joy of innocent delights, And tranquil nights ? “O LIVE Land deeply cherish still The sweet remembrance of the past : Rely on Heaven's unchanging will For peace at last. 66 Art thou a WANDERER ?-Hast thou seen O’erwhelming tempests drown thy bark ? A shipwreck'd sufferer hast thou been, Misfortune's mark ? Though long of winds and waves the sport, A quiet home. “ To FRIENDSHIP didst thou trust thy fame, And was thy Friend a deadly foe, Who stole into thy breast, to aim A surer-blow ? “LIVEI-and repine not o'er his loss, For friendship’s gold. “ Seek the true treasure, seldom found, Of power the fiercest griefs to calm, And sooth the bosom's deepest wound With heavenly balm. ** Did WOMAN'S charms thy youth beguile, And did the Fair One faithless prove ? Hath she betray'd thee with her smile, And sold thy love ? “ LIVE! 'Twas a false bewildering fire: But kills the heart. 66 Thou yet shalt know, how sweet, how dear, To gaze on listening Beauty's eye ! To ask, and pause in hope and fear Till she reply. 66 A nobler flame shall warm thy breast, In woman's love. |