LYRIC POEMS. Mindless of Watts and friendship, cold he lies; Deaf and unthinking clay. But whither am I led ? this artless grief Hurries the muse on, obstinate and deaf To all the nicer rules, and bears her down From the tall fabric to the neighbouring ground ; The pleasing hoots, the happy moments past In these sweet fields, reviving on my taste, Snatch me away resistless with impetuous haste. Spread thy strong pinions once again, my song, And reach the turret thou hast left so long: O'er the wide roof's its lofty head it rears, Long waiting our converse ; but only hears The noisy tumults of the realms on high ; The winds salute it whistling as theyfly, Or jarring round the windows : rattling showers Lash the fair sides ; above loud thunder roars ; But still the master sleeps ; nor hears the voice Of sacred friendship, nor the tempest's noise : An iron slumber sits on every sense, In vein the heav'nly thunders strive to rouse it thence. One labour more, my muse, the golden sphere Seems to demand : See thro' the dusky air Downward it shines upon the rising moon ; And, as shelabours up to reach her noon, Pursues her orb with repercussive light, And streaming gold repays the paler beams of night But not one ray can reach the darksome grave, Or pierce the solid gloom that fills the cave Where Gunston dwells in death. Behold it flames Like some new meteor with diffusive beams Thro' the mid - heaven, and overcomes the stars ; " So shines thy Gunston's soul above the spheres," )} Raphael replies, and wipes away my tears : "' We saw the flesh sink down with closing eyes, " We heard thy grief shriek out, Ile dies, He dies; " Mistaken grief! to call the flesh the friend !' " On our Lair wings did the bright youth ascend, " All heaven embrac'd him with immortal love, " And sung his welcome to the courts above ; " Gentle Ithuriel led him round the skies, " The buildings struck him with immense surprise ; " The spires all radiant, and the mansions bright, " The roof high vaulted with ethereal light: " Beauty and strength on the tall bulwarks sat " In heav'nly diamond ; and for every gate " On golden hinges a broad ruby turns, " Guards of the foe, and as it moves it burns ; " Millions of glories reign thro' every part; " Infinite power, and uncreated art " Stand here display'd, and to the stranger show " How it out - shines the noblest seats below. " The stranger fed his gazing pow'rs awhile, " Transported : Then, with a regardless smile, " Glanc'd his eyes downward thro' the crystal floor, " And took eternal leave of what he built before." Now, fair Urania, leave the doleful strain ; Raphael commands : Assume thy joys again : In everlasting numbers sing, and say, Gunston has mov'd his dwelling to the realms ofda' : " Gunston tJte friend lives still,;" And give thy groans away.
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