The Gazette

Poetry.

ELEGY.

As for the morn in lucid mantle dressed,
That not a cloud obscured her brow serene;
Nature's sweet face a thrilling sense impressed,
Of peerless beauty, and a cheerful mien.

Glow'd every crimson with a deeper red,
Crystals were pendant from each fragrant thorn;
A rose each blossom to the sun beam spread,
Collected sweets on every gale were borne.

Beauty on beauty crowded on the eye,
Above, below, around enlarging wide;
The full sun's orb'd glory soared meridian high,
And ripe fruition every wish supplied-

But frail's the regent of the glorious light!
Scarce had he bid the parting morn adieu,
When the glad prospect vanished from my sight,
And the winged tempest o'er the Eden flew.

Onward it swept, with wild destructive rage,
And every beauty, tyrant like destroyed;
From vision blotted was the sweet page,
That ever truth or fancy had enjoyed!

The smile diffusive from the source of day,
That added lustre to the summer's pride;
Thus long ere evening wore the gloomiest grey!
And thunder-mist, the withering landscape dyed.

View here, fond man, the type of human life,
Thy glowing dawn, thy noon, thy evening grey:
Tho wealth may place thee 'bove a menial strife,
And soothing flattery pour the softest lay.

High as the noon should expectation soar,
And hope diffusive as its radiance spread;
Storms from the south may unportentous pour,
And envy burst a tempest on thy head.

E'er should a genius of Miltonic kind
Raise thee superior to the son of pride :
Once to pale penury's rude gripe consigned,
Thy genius sinks, thy merits are decried!

For riches are criterions of the world.
When thou art wretched, wretched are thy parts ;
Poor merit must from favor e'er be hurled,
Spied suspicious by inhuman hearts.

At youth's dawn wears the ruby bright,
And flaming glories deck'd its riper day.
One cloud may veil them from a common sight,
When few will seek thee, for thou no more art gay!

Thus sings the muse; and may her skilful lore
Dwell on the memory of th'unwary wight;
Teach him an independence to implore,
And wave the curse of want and lawless might.