But what adventures more befel 'em, E L E G Y, WRITTEN IN THE YEAR WHEN THE RIGHTS OF SEPULTURE WERE SO FREQUENTLY VIOLATED. BY W. SHENSTONE, ESQ. SAY Parent of dreams! thou great magician ! say, Thus haunts my fancy thro' the glare of day. The filent moon had scal'd the vaulted skies, And anxious care resign'd my limbs to rest ; A sudden lustre ftruck my wond'ring eyes, And Silvia stood before my couch confess’d. Ah! not the nymph, so blooming and so gay, That led the dance beneath the festive shade ; But she that, in the morning of her day, Entomb'd beneath the grass-green fod was laid, No No more her eyes their wonted radiance cast; No more her breast inspir’d the lover's flame; No more her cheek the Pæftan rose surpafs’d; Yet seem'd her lip's ethereal smile the fame. Nor such her hair, as deck'd her living face; Nor such her voice, as charm'd the lift'ning crowd ; Nor such her dress, as heighten'd ev'ry,grace ; Alas! all vanilh'd for the mournful shroud ! Yet seem'd her lip's ethereal charm the same ; That dear distinction ev'ry doubt remov'd: Perith the lover, whose imperfect flame Forgets one feature of the nymph he lov'd! Damon,' she faid, ' mine hour allotted fies; Oh! do not waste it with a fruitless tear ! • Tho' griev'd to see thy Silvia's pale disguise; Suspend thy forrow, and attentive hear. • So may thy Muse with virtuous fame be bless'd! So be thy love with mutual love repaid ! • So may thy bones in sacred silence reft • Fast by the reliques of some happier maid ! • Thou know'st how, ling’ring on a distant fhore, · Disease invidious nipp'd my flow'ry prime ; - No friend was near to raise my drooping head, • No dear companion wept to see me die : Tho now debarr'd of each domestick tear, “ Unknown, forgot, I meet the fatal blow ; 6* There many a friend shall grace my woeful bier, 66 And many a figh fhall rise, and tear shall flow." • I spoke; nor Fate forebore his trembling spoil: • Some venal mourner lent his careless aid; • And foon they bore 'me to my native soil, " Where my fond parents dear remains were laid. « 'Twas then the youths; from ev'ry plain and grove, • Adorn'd with mourriful verse thy Silvia's bier ; 'Twas then the nymphs their votive garlands wove, * And strew'd the fragrance of the youthful year. . But why, alas ! the tender scene display? Could Damon's foot the pious path decline ? Ah, no! 'twas Damon first attun'd his lay, . And sure no fonnet was fo dear as thine ! Thus was I bosom'd in the peaceful grave, My placid ghost no longer wept it's doom; When favage robbers ev'ry fanction brave, And with outrageous guilt defraud the tomb! Shall my poor corse, from hostile realms convey'd, Lose the cheap portion of my native fands ? Or, in my kindred's dear embraces laid, • Mourn the vile ravage of barbarian hands? " To see Say, would thy breast no death-like torture feel, my limbs the felon's gripe obey ? To see them galh'd beneath the daring steel? To crowds a spectre, and to dogs a prey ? • If Pæan's fons these horrid rites require, • If Health's fair science be by these refin'd; • Let guilty convicts for their use expire, "And let their breathlefs corse avail mankind. • Yet hard it seems, when Guilt's last fine is paid, « To see the victim's corse deny'd repose; • Now, more severe, the poor offenceless maid • Dreads the dire outrage of inhuman foes. • Where is the faith of ancient Pagans fled: • Where the fond care the wand'ring manes claim ? • Nature, instinctive, cries, '“ Protect the dead; " And facred be their ashes and their fame!” ; · Arise, dear youth ! e’en now the danger calls E'en now the villain snuffs his wonted prey: • See ! see! I lead thee to yon facred walls • Oh, fly to chase these human wolves away!' |