O, welcome, Debtor! in these walls Thy cares, and joys, and loves forego! Approach, a brother Debtor calls, And join the family of woe!
Did Fortune with her frowning brow Thy late and early toils withstand ? Or Slander strike the fatal blow, Or griping Usury's iron hand?
Say, does a wife, to want consign'd,
While weeping babes surround her bed, Peep through, and see the fetters bind Those hands, that earn'd their daily bread?
Does she in vain, on knees that bend, The marble heart of Wealth implore? Breathless pursue some flying friend, Or beat in vain the closing door?
up, and share our scanty meal; For us some brighter hours may flow, Some angel break these bolts of steel,
For HOWARD marks and feels our woe.
HIGH on the throne of monarchy so late Revers'd, he sits in pomp majestical,
By nature form'd to win his way to greatness. Prompt to conceive and undertake whate'er With difficulty and hazard might be atchiev'd By mortal prowess; in the braying din Of civil strife, or on th' embattled plain, Midst charging squadrons and the cannon's roar, Alike undaunted he-nor for the means
Car'd, so he attain'd the height he soar'd to. For no soft pang of pity or remorse
E'er touched his rugged bosom; witness thou Ravag'd Ausonia, and ye fertile plains
Of Egypt, whitening with th' untombed bones Of those his undistinguishing revenge
Gave to the edge of the sword.-Cloudy his brow, Haggard his visage, and bespeaks a mind Where Care and cold Mistrust for ever dwell; Unsated Pride, and fierce Ambition, still Hatching pernicious counsels to disturb The peace of wasted Europe, and provoke The storms which best uphold his doubtful sway. Yet he can well dissemble; can disguise His dangerous intent, confounding still His haughty projects with the general good. So reigns he sovran o'er a people long By madding Faction vex'd, and dire misrule :
So reigns he-rais'd by deeds of high renown And favouring chance, girt with the pomp of war. But not unvisited, if Fame say true,
Of fearful thoughts, that hover round his couch, And mar his midnight slumbers; nor secure From vengeance ever plotting to destroy His usurpation, and the just disdain That loyalty and honour feel to bend Submissive at the shrine of tyrannous power. Nor think we that the Gods look reekless on, While he enjoys the throne of lawful kings, Who hath so oft blasphem'd them, and bow'd down To monstrous deities: and a day will come For retribution, when the hand of Heaven Shall blast his vaunted fortune, and his sword, Wherein he trusted, shall avenge the blood That cries against him, proving to vain man, That, though successful guilt triumphs awhile, Eternal Justice will at length assert Its rights, and pure Religion vindicate Her holy altars and unspotted name.
Be this dark spot for ever to verdure unknown, For ever by Virtue and Pity untrod; Unbreath'd be his name, and unhonour'd his stone, The foe of his Country, his King and his God!
FROM THE PERSIAN OF HAFIZ.
SONGSTER Sweet, begin the lay, Ever new, and ever gay; Bring the joy-inspiring wine, Ever fresh and ever fine.
With a heart-alluring lass, Gaily let the moments pass; Kisses stealing when you may, Ever fresh and ever gay.
Gentle boy, whose silver feet Nimbly move to cadence sweet, Fill us quick the generous wine, Ever fresh and ever fine.
How enjoy life's tedious hours Without wine's seducing powers? These will make them pass away, Ever fresh and ever gay.
To me the sweet enchanting maid, Charis devotes that never fade; Charms t' inspire her poet's song, Ever fair and ever young.
Zephyrs! while you gently move By the mansions of my love, Softly Hafiz' strains repeat, Ever new and ever sweet.
To Hope, that brightest star of Love, I bid a sorrowful farewell, For here within this silent grove, As solemn tolls the evening bell, I'll mourn his loss and sing his knell.
Or on some moss-grown turf repose, The dewy light of morn to hail, Where echoes oft repeat my woes, As sadly sighs the balmy gale, To hear my lover's funeral knell.
Spirits! if e'er you wander near
My love's unhallow'd grassy bed, O bear this soul impassion'd tear, To grace the relics of the dead; And say that here you saw me dwell, To weep and sing his funeral knell.
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