And drew our hasty steps where numbers met, Like us, appear'd to know the reason-why ? Nor needed answer: on the sea-weed spray, Too visible reply!-the wave-toss'd body lay.

XXI.

How stood I shock'd-when in the semblant face,
(By death unalter'd, or the cruel flood)
I could of Lycidas each feature trace,
Young Lycidas, the learned and the good!
"O Heaven (cried I) what sorrows will he feel,
Debarr'd the promis'd hope of thy return?
Not all his skill the mental wound can heal,
Or cure a loss he must so justly mourn!

How will he weep when in the ocean-grave,
He hears a brother lost he could have died to save !"

XXII.

Here with observant eye, and look serene,
Thus check'd the good old man my plaintive

speech;

"Best in submission piety is seen,

That lesson let thy kind conductress teach:

But lest the youth, thy friend bewails, should want The rites departed merit ought to find, Let these assembled natives kindly grant The unpolluted grave, by Heaven assign'd: A corpse that claim'd a due interment more, Yet never wafted wave to Faroe's guiltless shore !"

XXIII.

He said obedient to his just commands
The zealous youth the breathless body bear,
Some form the sepulchre with careful hands,
While round the virgins drop the artless tear.
Such flowers as Nature grants the ruder clime,
Such flowers around with pious care they shed,
And sing the funeral dirge in Runic rhyme,
Allotted to the sage, or warrior dead:

While as these fruitless honors are bestow'd, Content with sober speech his purpose thus avow'd:

XXIV.

"What boots thee now, lost youth! that cross the

main,

Thou spread the daring sail from pole to pole, Wealth to acquire, and knowledge to attain : Knowledge, the nobler treasure of thy soul! Beneath the scorching of the medial line, On Afric's sand, and India's golden coast; Virtue gave thee with native truth to shine, Drest in each excellence that youth could boast, And now she gives thee from the wave to rise, And reach the safer port prepar'd thee in the skies.

XXV.

"Yet take these honors, thy deserv'd reward!

Call this untroubled spot of earth thy own ;

Here shall thy ashes find a due regard,

And annual sweets around thy grave be thrown. Directing Heaven ordain'd thy early end,

From fraud and guilt to save thy blameless youth, To show that Death no terrors can attend,

Where Piety resides and holy Truth:

Here take thy rest within this hallow'd ground, Till the last trump emit the dead-awakening

sound!"

XXVI.

He ceas'd-attentive to the words he said,
In earth the natives place the honor'd clay ;
With holy rites they cover up his head,
A spotless grave, where never mortal lay!
Charm'd with the simple manners of the isle,
I wish'd some further knowledge to receive;
Here could have dwelt with old Content awhile,
And learn'd of him the happiness to live!
When Patience from my side abruptly broke,
And starting at the loss, I suddenly awoke!

POEM VII.

BY

THE LATE Moses mendez, ESQ.

I.

YE baleful followers of the Blatant Beast,
Who censure matters far beyond your ken,
Behold, I now present you with a feast;
Rush forth like wolves from your sequester'd den,
And mangle all the labors of my pen.

Show, ye rude louts, your lewd unhallow'd rage,
In this I share the fate of greater men ;

Pale Envy ever gnaws the laurel'd page,

And 'gainst all worthy wight doth war perpetual wage.

II.

If thee, sweet nymph, these simple lines aggrate,
If I may hope to merit thine esteem,

Not with the proudest would I change my state
Of those who deeply drink Castalia's stream,
And on Parnassus catch th' inspiring dream.
Say, thou dear noursling of the Paphian Queen,

Wilt thou, ah! wilt thou patronize my theme, So shall this measure blunt the tooth of spleen, Nor critic's tongue shall blast such favor'd lines, I

ween.

III.

See! how the tribe of witlings shun the place,
And deep in shades conceal their fronts of brass;
The coxcomb talks of feathers, cloaths, and lace,
Nay Codrus unimpeach'd doth let me pass,
Codrus, of pride and spite a mighty mass.
Thus when a set of imps at midnight play,
And tear the corses from the hallow'd grass;
Soon as the sun unbars the gates of day,

They fear his heavenly light and melt in air away.