Alexandria Daily Advertiser

MISANTHROPE

It is to be hoped for the honor of human nature that a complete Misanthrope never existed. Certain advances towards this degrading state of intellect have however undoubtedly been made. An elegant author observes, There is a sublime and tender melancholy, almost the universal attendant on genius, which is too apt to degenerate into a gloom and disgust with the world. Its cause of disgust, of its avoiding the haunts of busy life, and of its seeking the shade of solitude, arises from its disappointment in the high and romantic opinions it had formed of the sincerity and virtue of man, and from its defeat in its warm and visionary plans of happiness. In the following poem the author has endeavored to exhibit Misanthrope in its last stage of depravity: Timon of Athens, is the model from which he has drawn his representation.

TIS night again—no more let morning rise,
Or hated light salute those damn'd eyes,
Wrapt in these glooms, and hush'd in awe profound,
Be every object, every human sound;
What pleases them may I ne'er share—
Be dead each feeling—reign uncie Despair.
Alone, distracted, buried in this cave,
Unseen, unknown, forever let me rave:
Let no foul reptile dare approach this place,
That bears resemblance to the human race.
No feather'd songster dare en tyre its throat,
And fill these thickets with its love-sick note:
But let the howling of the beasts of prey
Rise on the blast and drown each tender lay;
The owl's shrill cry, the awful groan of death,
And shrieks of spirits tremble o'er the heath.
Man, man, fell man, fly far this haunted shade,
My air pollute not, nor my path invade;
If in my walks I meet thy frightful form,
I'll rend thee piecemeal to the howling storm;
I'd pity not, I have forgot to feel,
My bosom's harder than the polish'd steel;
I have no pity—none will I receive,
May fiends torment him who for me would grieve:
Harder than marble he transform'd that tear,
Which falls in sorrow o'er my silent bier;
I want no friends to follow my remains,
No sighs of mourning, and no fife's strains;
No lovely wife to melt in tenderest woes,
No little children—all mankind be foes!
When death's cold slumber comes to close these eyes,
And my soul labors in fierce agonies,
I'll smile disdainful at the dart of death,
And pour forth curses with my latest breath;
Around this haunt I'll cast my glimmering light
And sink triumphant in the depths of night;
Then may the tyger make my grave his den,
To guard my bones from every human foe,
From fields of slaughter thither bring his food,
And drench my ashes with a victim's blood.
I once had mercy: once this breast could glow,
And melt with pity at another's woe;
Once, sweet benevolence for all mankind
Prompted my actions, and each thought refin'd;
The mournful tale then claim'd my willing ear
And with my gifts I always gave a tear
But when misfortune fell upon my head,
And drove me from my little peaceful shed,
No friendly arms were open to my cries,
No roof to shield me from the wintry skies;
Those very wretches that my bounty fed,
With pride disdainful from my footsteps fled.
Once a fair wife reclin'd within my arms,
Sweeten'd my peace with her seducing charms,
Soften'd each passion by her magic art,
And stole to rapture this deluded heart:
But when a fell, designing villain came,
She fled with him and loaded me with shame.
I had a child, he was my only boy,
My dawning prospect, and my evening joy;
Nature had formed him with her utmost care,
With each attraction that can win the fair
His stature rose in strength and manly grace;
The rays of genius lighten'd on his face.
O how I lov'd him, but how ill repaid
Was all my fondness and parental aid;
He too forsook me for a harlot's bed:
And lavish'd curses on his father's head!
O shudder nature at thy dark disguise;
Man, boasted man is infamy and lies.
I'll now go prowl, the wandering mazes tread,
And climb the mountain's bleak and rugged head
Hang in grim pleasure o'er the dreadful steep,
And hear the tempest lash the angry deep;
Invoke the furies from their midnight cave,
And call the murderer from his yawning grave.