Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

Whom your high merit, and their own, prefers
To all the worthiest beds of England's Peers.

Thus the great Eagle, when Heaven's wars are o'er, And the loud thunder has forgot to roar, Jove's fires laid by, with those of Venus burns, To his forsaken mate and shades returns ; On some proud tree more sacred than the rest, With curious art he builds his spacious nest; In the warm sun lies basking all the day, While round their Sire the generous Eaglets play; Their Sire, well pleas'd to see the noble brood Fill all the loftiest cedars of the wood.

[blocks in formation]

SURE there's a fate in excellence, too strong
To struggle with the mortal fabric long;
Whether the weaken'd springs of life decay,
As active thoughts their energy display ;
Or the Soul, scornful of her seat, aspires
And, like a guest unsatisfy'd, retires.
Or is Earth robb'd by a resuming Sky,
Only to show it can as fast supply?

Here scythe-arm'd Death the full-grown Virtues mows,
There the restoring hand of Plenty sows:

Thus patriots die, and patriots mount the sphere,

As some stars set, that others may appear.

Give me profuse of tears o'er Craggs to mourn, And, grateful, consecrate the much-lov'd urn. Severe Disease! what power shall mock thy speed, Elusive of the skilful hand of Mead?

Yet was his course complete, though finish'd soon;
His sun was strong, though darken'd in its noon.
O may no tongue profane thy tomb invade,
Nor envy posthumous pursue thy shade!
Fair shine thy fame, and be thy praises just,
And mix with Addison's thy social dust!
The sweet-tongu'd Addison, whose happy vein
First rival'd, Plato, thy immortal strain;
Though Tully with a strong resemblance vy'd,
And Lewis crowded Academies try'd.
Illustrious friends! (if this poor verse can give
Life to your names) your friendly names shall live,
Long as the structure that your urns contains,
Or liberty with George's line remains.

Who thinks of liberty, but Stanhope's name Beats in his breast, and sets his soul on flame? O much-lamented Ghost! thy virtues show Like stars which through yon azure convex glow; A beauteous train, that speak the power divine, And strong in brightness, as in number shine. Grant Heaven some influence from his ashes dart, To warm and actuate each British heart! Divide his gifts! This be the Warrior's heir, Here let the Statesman, there the Scholar share:

In him were all these various prospects crost, And future Marlb`roughs and Godolphins lost.

Nor thou, O Carteret, with a frown disdain The Muse that tunes this melancholy strain; For who the virtuous grave with incense strows, The fairest mark to living merit shows. To count our loss, is only to foresee What the demanding age expects from thee. Then let it give its proudest wishes scope, Thy deeds shall justify its boldest hope.

What is the dark-drawn scene of life supine? A dream of entity without design,

A useless space 'twixt Nature's rise and fall,
Forgetting all things, and forgot of all?
What is the land of sciences when past?
A wild of thistles, or a barren waste;
Or vainly wordy, fruitful of dispute;
Or deep-reserv'd, unprofitably mute.
Few, very few, have on this dross refin'd,
To polish nations, and improve mankind.
These too at mighty distances are seen,
And many a lazy age must pass between.
Fate various eras mix'd, and doubtful draws
Between a Solon's and a Parker's laws.

From our first William's trace to George's days,
Few Walsinghams, and fewer Carterets blaze,

[blocks in formation]

Thee, early ripe, with every grace endued,
The Muses with an eye of blessing view'd:
They form'd thy manners ductile to the lyre,
And bade thee to the noblest seats aspire:
Hence wit and elegance of spirit flow'd,
And the sweet habitude of doing good.
As in the seed to curious eyes appear
The gay unfolded beauties of the year,
The future grove looks green in lesser lines,
And the next harvest in its nonage shines:
The statesman thus was figur'd in thy prime,
And waited but the ripening hour of Time;
Nor waited long; thy Genius took a flight,
Out-wing'd thy years, and hasten'd to its height.
As the sun's rays the wakening plants prepare,
As the wing'd whirlwind moves the passive air,
Such is the Genius to the human frame,
An active, vital, and dilating flame,

That mounts beyond the view of vulgar reach,
And puts the principles of life on stretch.

Such, Carteret, in thy breast thy Monarch saw, And sent thee forth to give rough nations law; Long-harrass'd Sweden with new life to chear, And bid War rest upon his iron spear.

Mad waste of rage! how wide thy vengeance flew,
Nor breathing respite of the seasons knew ;
The Summer meadow, aud the Winter flood,
Only distinguish'd by degrees of blood.

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »