Classic Poem

If the Chaste Grief of Nations can attest,
The suffring Virtues of distinguish'd Fame;
In the bright Goal of pure celestial Rest,
Thy Spirit enters with superior Claim. —

Illustrious L OUIS , on whose Birth-right shone,
The Star of G LORY with resplendent Light:
Too soon it's Lustre fled the B OURBON Throne,
Shed a pale Gleam and faded into Night

Ah — what avails the Morning's azure Grace,
Ting'd with the softness of the Rose's dye;
Swift the black Clouds o'er ev'ry Beauty pace,
Dim the proud Sun, and terrify the Sky.

Rich in the Treasure of thy Subjects' Praise,
Thine Hours with conscious Happiness did glide;
Till, like a Meteor, Liberty's full Blaze,
Scorch'd the fair Lillies of despotic Pride.

Cast from thy high Pre-eminence of State,
Thy Grandeur like a falling Star appears: —
Ah — who shall search the Mysteries of Fate,
Or dare to draw the Veil from future Years! —

On the chill Ether of the twilight Gale,
The dying Murmur caught my stricken Ear;
And oh! — like Light'ning, soon the horrid Tale,
Flash'd on the Sense and " rous'd me to a Tear "

Reduc'd beyond the Verge of Mis'ry low,
On the dire B LOCK thou bend'st thy martyr'd Head;
A F RANTIC N ATION gave the murd'ring Blow,
That sped their M ONARCH to the sainted Dead!

Nor e'en could base insulting Vengence there ,
Give to pure Grief — one melancholy Pause
Ah, no! — the thund'ring Tocsin rent the Air,
'Mid the loud Shouts of barb'rous Applause.

Unsated still, with more than savage Soul,
They dipt their Streamers in the lifeless Tide;
Bore thy pale bleeding Head upon a Pole,
The crimson Banner of Rebellion's Pride.

I can no more — a keen convulsive Pain,
Shoots thro' the Nerve with desolating Woe;
Cold is the Pulse now trembling in the Vein,
And soon these bitter Dews shall cease to flow.

Who shall the Royal Mother's Sorrows calm,
Take from her Grasp the beck'ning Sprite — Despair ;
Drop on her wounded Peace the soothing Balm,
Or still the Poison of corrosive Care. —

Lo — o'er her Innocents she wildly raves,
She weeps — she starts — she maddens into Fits;
While as their Lives with Agony she craves,
Thy murder'd Shadow cross her Vision flits —

Ah — soon shall Death the beaut'ous Captive free,
From lawless Tyranny and mortal Pain;
Soon as by Heav'n's immutable Decree,
A brighter Glory 'mid the Spheres shall reign.

There Thou , blest Star, thy Consort Light shall trace,
Catch from her Beam the silv'ry Ray divine;
Guard her pale Splendor thro' etherial Space,
A ND IN ETERNAL L IFE FOREVER SHINE .