MISCELLANEOUS

PO E M S

,

Some of which are in the

CUMBERLAND DIALECT.

By JOHN STAGG,

Hail, holy light! offspring of Heav'n first-born!

Thee I revisit safe,
And feel thy sovereign vital lamp; but thou
Revisit's not these eyes, that roll in vain
To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn;
So thick a drop serene hath queixch'd their orbs,
Or dim fuffufion viel'd. Yet not the more
Cease I to wander, where the Muses haunt.

MILTON.

SECOND EDITION.

WORKINGTON:

PRINTED BY W. BORROWDALE,

In the Market Place,

1805,

ORIGINAL POETRY,

AN ELEGI.

,

ARK where yon fadly, mournful, pafling bell.

Bursts on the gale with melancholy toll; *Tis forrow's voice, that deeply awfull knell,

That summon's hence the fair Celestia's soul.

Ah she is gone! thou Muse of Sorrow. weep:

Her loss with grateful sympathy deplore; Heave pensive heart, ye eyes in torrents steep,

The good, thé blest Celeftia is no more,

Oh cruel death! nor yet to her severe,

But to surviving relatives unkind:
Thy mandate she with fortitude could bear,

Thy shafts alone pierce those the left behind.

To her no share of poignant woe was given,

In being exil'd from this drear abode;
She left this world, to join her kindred heaven

With fifter-angels and her Parent God.

Kind Providence that sees and governs all,

Beheld her suff'rings, nor beheld in vain; He fummon'd: chearful she obey'd the call, And left for endless bliss a life of pain,

Pure was her life, and spotlefs was her mind,

Her heart unbiass'd, and her judgment clear; To Heav'n alone her heart was still resign'd;

Her actions gen'rous and her words sincere,

The familh'd stranger and the child of want,

Her kind benevolence has oft reliev’d; At Pity's call the ready tear she'd grant,

At life's fad woes her tender bosom heav'd.

And thou, O Muse! with sympathetic heart,

Would fum her merits in imperfect lays; In her benevolence thou had'st a part,

A part that claims thy pity and thy praise.

But foft: calm reason calls; forbear to mourņ,

Nor dare divine Omniscience to offend; Who gave, may sure exact a just return,

Still to the virtuous Heaven will be a friend.

As long as memory in me shall live,

Will I regret the fad and fatal day,
A tributary tear to her I'll give,
Ne'er thall her lovly image fade away!

T

Kind Heav'n ņo sooner bless’d me with a friend,

A real friend; inestimable store!)
Than death, relentless, did his rage extend,

And with rudc hands the bonds of friendthip tore.

OCCASIONAL REFLECTIONS.

W

THAT fragrant odours scent the gale,
Diffus'd from yon fair blushing rose;

' What sweets the various flowers exhale,

What grand, what lively dies discloser

How sweetly smiles th' autumnal year,

Whilft fruitage crowns the fertile lawn; Serene the azure heavens appear,

And warbling songsters hail the dawn.

Hush'd are the winds, fave where the breeze

Refreshing fans the sober shade,
And murm’ring through the waving trees,

With coolness chears the sultry glade.

The charms of chearfulness extend

O'er all creations ample plain : Each grateful creature seems to lend

Concurrence to the thankful ttrain.

The pinion'd warblers of the grove,

That simply flutter on the spray, Inspir'd by gratitude and love,

Pour forth in praise their warbling lay.