Without my sweet companion can I live? The dear reward of every virtuous toil, What pleasures now can pall'd Ambition give? E'en the delightful sense of well-earn'd praise, Unshar'd by thee, no more my lifeless thoughts could raise. For my distracted mind On whom for consolation shall I call? Your kind assistance lend, To bear the weight of this oppressive wo. My dear departed love, so much was thine, In every other grief, Are now with your idea sadden'd all : Each favourite author we together read [dead. My tortur'd memory wounds, and speaks of Lucy We were the happiest pair of human kind: The rolling year its varying course perform❜d, And back return'd again; Another and another smiling came, And saw our happiness unchang'd remain : Harmonious Concord did our wishes bind: That all this pleasing fabric Love had rais'd On which e'en wanton Vice with envy gaz'd, And every scheme of bliss our hearts had form'd, Yet O my soul, thy rising murmurs stay; With impious grief complaiu. That all thy full-blown joys at once should fade, Was his most righteous will-and be that will obey'd. Would thy fond love his grace to her control, That heavenly radiance of eternal light, E'en Love itself, if rising by degrees No feet but those of harden'd Guilt shall miss. There yield up all his power, ne'er to divide you. more. MONODY WRITTEN NEAR STRATFORD UPON AVON. AVON, thy rural views, thy pastures wild, Here first, at Fancy's fairy-circled shrine, Like spectres swarming to the wizard's hall; A weeping mourner, smote with anguish sore, And sternly shakes his sceptre, dropping blood. TO THE MEMORY OF GARRICK. Ir dying excellence deserve a tear, If fond remembrance still be cherish'd here,* Or with quaint smiles dismiss the plaintive strain, His fame requires to act a tender part: The general voice, the meed of mournful verse, The grac'd respect that claim'd him to the last, So much are Garrick's praise-so much his due-- Amid the arts which seek ingenious fame, Our toil attempts the most precarious claim! To him, whose mimic pencil wins the prize, Obedient Fame immortal wreaths supplies: Whate'er of wonder Reynolds now may raise, Raphael still boasts contemporary praise : Each dazzling light, and gaudier bloom subdu'd, With undiminish'd awe his works are view'd: * Drury Lane Theatre, in which it was spoken. E'en Beauty's portrait wears a softer prime, The patient sculpture owns an humbler part, Content with slow and timorous stroke to trace Superior hopes the poets bosom fireO, proud distinction of the sacred lyre!Wide as th' inspiring Phoebus darts his ray, Diffusive splendour gilds his votary's lay. Whether the song heroic woes rehearse, With epic grandeur, and the pomp of verse; Or, fondly gay, with unambitious guile Attempt no prize but favouring Beauty's smile; Or bear dejected to the lonely grove The soft despair of unprevailing loveWhate'er the theme-through every age and clime Congenial passions meet th' according rhyme : The pride of glory-Pity's sigh sincere Youth's earliest blush-and Beauty's virgin tear. Such is their meed-their honours thus secure, Whose arts yield objects, and whose works endure. The actor only shrinks from time's award; Feeble tradition is his memory's guard ; |