Gazette Of The United States

[The following beautiful LINES were written by Mr. Chase a la Mode,
on the Marriage of Miss Sackville to Mr. Herbert.

Ye solemn pedagogues, who teach
A language by eight parts of speech,
Can any of you all impart
A rule to conjugate the heart?

Grammarians did you ever try
To construe and expound the eye?
And from the Syntax of the face
Decline its gender and its case?

What said the nuptial tear that fell
From fair Eliza, can you tell?
And yet it spoke upon her cheek
As eloquent as tear could speak.—

"Here, at God's altar as I stand,
To plight my vows, and yield my hand,
With faltering tongue whilst I proclaim
The cession of my virgin name;

Whilst in my ear is read at large
The Rubrick's term unsoften'd charge,
Spare me (the silent pleader cries,
Ah spare me, ye surrounding eyes!

Usher'd amidst a blaze of light,
Whilst here I pass in public sight,
Or kneeling by a father's side,
Renounce the daughter for the bride;

Ye sisters, to my soul so dear,
Say, can I check the rising tear?
When at this awful hour I cast
My memory back on time that's past

Ungrateful were I to forbear
This tribute to a father's care;
For all he suffer'd, all he taught,
Is there not due some tender thought?

And may not one fond tear be given
To a dear saint that rests in heaven?
And you to whom I now betroth,
In sight of heaven, my nuptial oath;

Who to nobility of birth
True honor join, and native worth,
If my accordant bosom draws
One sigh, misconstrue not the cause:

Trust me, though weeping, I rejoice,
And, blushing, glory in my choice."