Richmond Enquirer

FOR THE ENQUIRER

A PROPHETICAL VISION

Twas now the time for Morpheus' reign,
It was now the time for sweet repose,
For him devoid of care and pain:
For him whose heart with peace o'erflows.

My reason bound in sleep's soft chain,
Imagination soar'd on high,
Through fancy's bright and wide domain.
Through earth and air: through sea and sky.

At length I rested in a field,
That once a gay parterre had been:
But now few blossoms did it yield.
And they were fading, with'ring seen.

I wonder'd! where I was—and sigh'd
Such desolation to behold;
My sigh was heard—and thus repli'd,
A figure venerably old.

"This spot was once Minerva's pride,
Yon Gothic Dome with moss inlaid,
The court o'er which she did preside,
Where Literature her tribute paid;

A blooming garden then was here,
Hope's plants luxuriantly had grown,
Which art and science, train'd with care;
And nurs'd 'till they had fully blown.

But now, alas! Minerva's fled,
And science droops her beauteous head:
Fame's trumpet now no longer calls
The studious band, within these walls;

And all the hopes I frankly own,
Time nourish'd in my breast, are flown.
An awful cloud I see depends,
Over the temple's heavy head.

The lightning's fiery bolt descends
E'en now and ranks her—".

"Cease, Father! cease, despond no more:
(A heav'nly voice exclaim'd in haste)
The darkest night is studded o'er;
With stars in points of gold enchas'd:

The blackest cloud is brightly lin'd,
Despond no more! this waste shall bloom:
And fraught with blessings for mankind.

In yon forsaken Dome, her seat,
And sceptre Pallas will resume,
And ne'er again from it retreat.

As she appear'd in days of yore,
To guide Ulysses' son and bore
Wise Mentor's name—she will be seen
In form Divine and noble mien.

Th' anointed name of Wilmer bear,
And rear Virginia's sons with care.

Religion will rejoice to know,
He's rais'd the Standard of the Lord
With learning hand in hand she'll go,
And help him spread His fame abroad;

The scales shall fall from ev'ry eye,
Obscur'd by films of Ignorance,
And Skepticism's mists shall fly
Before the truths he will advance.

Dispel thy gloom! his Herald's near,
He comes your fainting hearts to cheer.
And universal change portends,
The plants of Hope his influence own,
As the reviving Dew descends;

Fair Science smiles to see him here,
And spring around Minerva's throne;
And owns him as a pupil dear."

The voice prophetic ceas'd;—around
I look'd, the garden blooming found,
The Dew had fall'n: it sparkled bright,
Reflecting wisdom's varied light,

And every little verdant spray,
Glitter'd as gems in Phœbus' ray.

I sprang—and cried "O banish fear!
Elate with joy, towards the Seat
The Herald see! Blest Wilmer's near!
Thy Alma Mater's heart to cheer!

Tell her Virginia will support
Her, whose youthful bosom nourished,
Those who have been their country's fort:
Neath whose beams her Oak has flourish'd,

Those, who in Cabinet, and field,
Have been her glory, and her shield.

Yes! tell her 'round her aged knees,
Youth yet will crowd her joys to hear,
Collecting like Hymettus' bees,
A store for winter's hoary year."

As loud I spoke,
The Vision fled,
Th' spell of Somnus broke,
I bounded from my bed.

CORNELIA.