Classic Poem

ON SEEING MASON'S MONUMENT.

W HILE , mid this solemn dome's sequesser'd shade,
By venerable virtues sacred made,
With softer awe, I mark, and gentler tread,
One modest modern join the mighty dead,
D RAYTON 's cold cheek a pallid blush betrays,
And learned J ONSON trembles for the bays!
Nor may the marble, deck'd by Mason 's name,
Less servent pray'r, or meaner homage claim,
Tho' round the tuneful Sons of B RITAIN rise,
Where, laurel-wreath'd, his recent model lies.

Yet, once more, oh! ye Bards, on M ONA 's steep,
Who, nightly, your mysterious meetings keep,
And wailing o'er the corse of warrior brave,
Moan to the murmur of the troublous wave;
Once more, with your wild warmth, and native fire,
Smite the deep sorrows of the sounding lyre,
While, in the yelling tempest heard afar,
C ARACTACUS impels his scythed car,
And issuing, dreadful, from their shadowy shroud,
His fleeting coursers paw the dusky cloud.
The Minstrel, erst, who wheel'd his brave career
" Beyond the visible, diurnal sphere, "
Swift as loose stars their golden orbits leave,
Or, meteors glide aslope a summer-eve,
In quest of flow'rs, that strew th' empyrean way,
Advent'rous bent, I see; — immortal G RAY !
Pure o'er thy bust his lambent glories play:
Lo! modest W HITEHEAD too, to Friendship warm,
(E'en yet her flame illumes his phantom form,)
On thee still fix'd his meek, but ardent eye,
The brother-seraph bends, and wooes thee to the sky.

Oh! lov'd, oh! lost! whose polish'd page no stain
Of flatt'ry knew, or ruder wit profane,
Which rigid Piety might wish effac'd:
Soft, yet sublime, luxuriant, yet chaste,
Long may the B RITISH youth, whose skill would raise
Perfection, worthy of succeeding days,
Here led; (his eyes suffus'd with generous dew,)
The honors of departed worth to view,
Awefully touch'd, breathe forth the sigh sincere,
Admire the P OET , and his ART revere!