Can storied urn or animated bust Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath? Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid Some heart once pregnant with celestial fire; Hands, that the rod of empire might have sway'd, Or wak'd to extasy the living lyre. But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page 45 5c Chill Penury repress'd their noble rage, And froze the genial current of the soul. Full many a gem of purest ray serene, The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear : Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, 55 Some village-Hampden, that with dauntless breast Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood. 60 Th' applause of list'ning senates to command, To scatter plenty o'er a smiling land, And read their hist'ry in a nation's eyes, Their lot forbad: nor circumscrib'd alone 65 Their growing virtues, but their crimes confin'd; Forbad to wade through slaughter to a throne, And shut the gates of mercy on mankind, V The struggling pangs of conscious truth to hide, Or heap the shrine of Luxury and Pride With incense kindled at the Muse's flame. Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife, 70 75 They kept the noiseless tenor of their way. Yet ev❜n these bones from insult to protect With uncouth rhimes and shapeless sculpture deck'd, Their name, their years, spelt by th' unletter'd muse, And many a holy text around she strews, For who to dumb Forgetfulness a prey, This pleasing anxious being e'er resign'd, Left the warm precincts of the chearful day, Nor cast one longing ling'ring look behind? On some fond breast the parting soul relies, 1 Ch' i veggio nel pensier, dolce mio fuoco, Petrarch. Son. 169. 80 85 90 For thee, who mindful of th' unhonour'd Dead Haply some hoary-headed Swain may say, 'Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn Brushing with hasty steps the dews away To meet the sun upon the upland lawn. 'There at the foot of yonder nodding beech 'That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high, 'His listless length at noontide would he stretch, 'And pore upon the brook that babbles by. 'Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn, 'Or craz'd with care, or cross'd in hopeless love. 'One morn I miss'd him on the custom'd hill, 'Along the heath and near his fav'rite tree; 'Another came; nor yet beside the rill, 'Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he; "The next with dirges due in sad array 'Slow thro' the church-way path we saw him born. 'Approach and read (for thou canʼst read) the lay, 115 'Grav'd on the stone beneath yon aged thorn.' THE EPITAPH. HERE rests his head upon the lap of Earth Fair Science frown'd not on his humble birth, And Melancholy mark'd him for her own. I 20 Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere, He gain'd from Heav'n ('twas all he wish'd) a friend. No farther seek his merits to disclose, Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, (There they alike in trembling hope repose,)1 The bosom of his Father and his God. 125 1 VIII. A LONG STORY. IN Britain's Isle, no matter where, To raise the cieling's fretted height, 5 Each pannel in achievements cloathing, Rich windows that exclude the light, Full oft within the spatious walls, When he had fifty winters o'er him, The Seal, and Maces, danc'd before him. His bushy beard, and shoe-strings green, Mov'd the stout heart of England's Queen, paventosa speme. Petrarch. Son. 114. 2 Hatton, prefer'd by Queen Elizabeth for his graceful Person and fine Dancing. IO 15 What, in the very first beginning! A House there is, (and that's enough) But rustling in their silks and tissues. The first came cap-a-pee from France, 20 25 Alas, who would not wish to please her! With bonnet blue and capucine, And aprons long they hid their armour, And veil'd their weapons bright and keen (By this time all the Parish know it) Had told, that thereabouts there lurk'd A wicked Imp they call a Poet, 40 |