The New Hampshire Gazette

POETRY.

From the Charleston Courier.

SLANDER.

Oh! who is she, whose pale and furrowed cheek,
Of many a secret crime appears to speak?
Whose sunken eyes within their sockets roll,
As if to penetrate her victim's soul,
To seek some stain, that in a careless hour
First laid it open to her vengeful power?
Whose scowling eyebrows seem to give the lie
To the affected smile that hovers nigh?
Yes—it is Slander! See, her pointed dart,
Is levelled now at Virtue's trembling heart;
In vain her fated victim strives to fly,
Malicious pleasure glows in either eye,
As she beholds it writhe in agony,
Beneath her mortal blow. Its misery
Fills every feature with a fierce delight,
While she exults, and glories in her might.
As the fell Simon's pestilential breath.
Is burdened with the envenomed shafts of death:
As all that bears existence, shrinks aghast
Before the power of the destroying blast,
So lovely Innocence, by Slander crost,
Is in her artful toils forever lost,
No aid can then preserve the lovely flower,
No arm can snatch it from her with'ring power.
Twas Envy who first gave this monster birth.
And bade her offspring be a curse on earth;
Who taught her first, with modest steps to tread
E'en while she "raked the ashes" of the dead;
Twas she who bade her learn the treacherous art,
To twine herself with smiles around the heart;
And when, alas! that citadel is won,
To whisper to its victim. "thou'rt undone."
Oh! that some power benign would raise its arm,
To crush the wily serpent, that can charm
E'en while it stings. Oh! that the world might be
But vain the wish! Where innocence is found.
Insidious Slander, still will hover round,
Yes—she will spread in every clime her lures,
And be the bane of man, while earth endures.

RINALDO.