Classic Poem

About the time that Sol retires to rest,
And paler Cynthia takes her turn to reign;
He ruddy glowing to'aid the distant west,
She fainter gilding o'er the verdant plain.

When the sweet warblers of each field and grove,
Drop the tir'd wing, and seek the bending spray,
No more mellifluent chaunt their songs of love,
But sleep recumbent 'till the dawn of day,

When Philomel resumes the song alone,
And pining echo soft returns the sound;
Perch'd on a thorn that aggravates her moan,
And but for her all silent were around.

With just a friend that follow'd close behind,
I met a coarse, and startled at the sight;
But, ah! what pangs, what tortures fill'd my mind;
My hair upstarted soon with dire affright.

When that same mourning, solitary friend,
In broken words, and sighs, and shaking head,
" Behold the last remains, the fatal end
" Of Heartwell murder'd! " That was all he said.

Grief slopped his tongue, and tears bedew'd his face;
His breast he beat, and silent past along;
Yet, in revenge for Heartwell 's deep disgrace,
His worth shall fill the remnant of my song.

By nature form'd to charm with mirth and wit,
T' applaud the good, to satirize the bad;
To charm the miser from his selfish fit,
And wake to joy the hopeless and the sad.

To praise a Shakespear 's or a Garrick 's worth;
To damn conceited authors in a line;
To rival Yates or Shuter in their mirth,
And make a coxcomb swear, or hero shine.

True to his country, loyal to his king;
A spirit just, to blame or to commend;
The mutes deign'd his jocund lyre to string,
And virtue made him father, husband, friend.

Unknown to fortune, not unknown to same,
He struggled in a base ungrateful age;
When lo! some villain, but conceal'd his name,
With murdering hands have struck him off the stage.

Oh! would Melpomene assist my lays!
Thy praise should flow according to thy due;
Or round my temples twine immortal bays,
My passport unto same, remembring you.

Yet, as it is, accept my artless verse,
The meanest follower in the muses train;
May this excite some nobler to rehearse,
And give the tribute due a nobler strain.