5©39c W7l3a miton Answer to Montgomery's celebrated Poem of the Grave THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES i 1 I ANSWER THE GKAVE. ANSWER TO MONTGOMERY'S CELEBRATED POEM OF THE GRAVE. ROBERT PLEYDELL WILTON. ' Though long of -winds and -waves tiie sport, ' Condemu'd in •wretchedness to roam, ' Li-re ! thou shalt reach a sheltering port, "A quiet Home." MONTGOMERT'S GRATE. LONDON : WHITTAKER AND CO. AVE MARIA LANE. MANCHESTER: BANCKS AND CO. 8ELBY: W. R. G ALPINE. 1838. PREFACE. IN submitting this trifle to the ordeal of pubUc opinion, the Author begs to disclaim all arrogant pretensions, to a competition with that justly admired genius, from whose talented and briUiant eflForts he has presimied to select a subject for reply — having done so, only in the humble persuasion, that although we are therein solemnly and forcibly enjoined to present an unflinching front to the ruthless advance of life's vicissitude, and cling steadily to existence through all its mazy labyrinths of terror and perplexity, there are oft-times circumstances under whose oppressive influence, it may not be considered inconsistent or profane, to sigh for death, and woo the still seclusion of the Grave. 85o « ^-^ ANSWER TO THE GRAVE. GRAVE, I have heard thy dread reply To words despair and pain have spoken, Forbidding a lone heart to die, Whose peace lies broken. And as thy dark injunctions fell, In sounds unearthly on mine ear Each accent, like a solemn knell, Smote it with fear. 2 AN ANSWER TO 111. Yet know, their charge to shun that rest The wretch anticipates in tliee, But adds unto a tortur'd hreast Fresh misery. IV. Thou bid'st liim Hve ! repent and pray, Bewail his follies in the dust, Rememb'ring through life's thorny way That God is just ! V. That mercy still, with cherub smile, May sweeten terror's baneful gloom; And heavenly peace at length beguile The mourner's doom. THE GRAVE. VI. Thou bid'st him live ! and cherish deep The memory of days foregone, In sad rememberance to weep Theii' pleasui'es flown ; VII. To muse upon that blissful dream, Whose swift, but 'joy illumin'd' flight, Pass'd o'er his boyhood, like a beam Of holy light. VIII. And as he roams a stormy sea, Wliere star nor sun-ray ever shine, Await a calm from anguish free Stiller than thine ; 4 AN ANSWER TO IX. "Where safelj from the billow's roar, His shatter' (1 bark may anchor cast. Triumphant near some happy shore Home like the past. Thou bid'st him live, nor longer bear The sting Avliich faithless friendship leaves ; Nor sigh for beauty false as fair, Whose smile deceives. XI, But win a firmer, nobler friend, Tlian he who spurn'd his soul's distress. Or on a brighter maid depend It's care to bless. THE GRAVE. 5 XII. Fell specti'e only to the mind, Estrang'd to suffering and remorse. May not their victim with thee find A resting soui'ce ? xiir. The secrets of thy dismal realm Are fearful to the sons of mirth, For horrors there will sure o'erwhelm The gay of earth ? XIV. The worm, the coffin, and the shroud, Dwell rudely on the worldling's hreath. And well the reckless and the proud May shrink at Death. 6 AN ANSWER TO XV. But he, whose every hope lies dead, Whom woman's love nor friend can save. Serenely seeks a tranquil bed Within the grave. XVI. For there's a wound no balm may heal, A tear no hand may wipe away, A dai'kness which can never feel Returning day. XVII. And dareful to thy yawning brink, The wretch of destiny will crawl. Nor from corruption's terrors shrink To gaze or fall. THE GRAVE. / XVIll. Thou bid' St him live ! and wash his crimes, Where sweet religion guards the spring, Ensuring peace and fairer times Beneath her wing. XIX. ' Embrace the scoui'ge by heaven decreed To bend him to affliction's chain, And in its galling bondage bleed H In woe and pain. XX. Tliis he may do, and yet O, grave ! On tliy cold bosom yearn to sleep, Where sorrow's pale devoted slave Shall cease to weep. 8 AN ANSWER TO XXI. Yes, sear'd and blighted in his bloom, Yet meek acknowledging the rod. He covets still the noiseless tomb, Grief's fit abode. XXII. Tliou di'eaded phantom, dai-k and dire, Twin monster of insatiate death. Millions for thee this hour desu'e To yield their breath. XXIII. And wilt thou then be woo'd in vain, Bj one who wills nor fears to die ? Who in thy horrid gulph would fain Forgotten lie ? THE GRAVE. 9 XXIV. Must he alone whose life is fair. Be shiieking ta thy cavenis huiTd ? Bequeathing onlv to despair A hated world. XXV. Are wither'd hopes and blasted joys, Forbidden thus to sigh for thee ? Should anguish, which the mind destroys, There cherish'd be ? XXVI. Tliy solemn warnings to the breast. Where all the fiends of conscience dwell. Where passions rude, and thouglits unblcst, Reign types of IIcll. 10 AN ANSWER TO XXVII. To these, they may in thunder cry, — " Time's flight to deep contrition give, " Compunction's worm can never die "Repent and live ! " XXVIII. But stern misfortune's ill starr'd child, The * sinn'd against ' and scoff" of fate. To whom existence is a \vild Embitter' d state. XXIX. Where one unbroken winter frowns, In mad conflicting stonns an-ay'd. Bleak as the sunless gloom which crowns Thine own foul shade. THE GRAVE. 11 XXX. Death sure were mercy to the soul. So struggling to elude her chains. Sweet earnest of that peaceful goal ? Where pleasure reigns. XXXI. And he who for its houme prepares. With holy confidence on high, But gives to tliee those wasting cares Which with him die. XXXIl. For well thou say'st, the spark divine Untramell'd from its hond of clay. Shall in effalgent glory shine A heam of day. I 12 AN ANSWER TO xxxni. Thou can'st not quench that hallow'd light. Within the shadows of thy womb. Nor stay its bold aspiring flight Beyond the tomb. XXXIV. The mourner then, and wanderer here, Whom a vile world unpitying spurns, To thee O Grave ! unblanch'd by fear, Still meekly turns. XXXV. Would he but fly perdition's sting, From infamy alone depart, Those words of thine indeed might wring His bleeding heart. THE GRAVE. 13 XXXVL But fate's unblest devoted one. Who wiitlies a thousand ills beneath, Will ever in his thraldom groan For thee and death. xxxvu. Life bears for him no blooming flower, Tlirough all her gay and vaiied wild ; Time yields not there one shining hour To sorrow's child. xxxvin. The deep, deep slumber of the dead. Which no afflicting visions scare. Oblivion, and the earth's cold bed Befit despair. 14 AN ANSWER TO XXXIX. Why then alas ! should mortal woes, By whose rude shock our joys are riven, Withhold us from that sweet repose, Tliat gives us Heaven ? XL. Still warn the reckless and the hase, From rushing to thy dark domain. Where sin may claim no hiding place, No pause from pain. XLI. Grief only at thy altar clings, To yield her mournful tribute there. Accept the offering she brings. A life of care. THE GRAVE. 15 XLTI. A place and pillow in the dust, To hopeless misery are dear, Calm shelter from the ruthless gust, Which chills us here. XLIIl. Receive him then, -who loves thee well, Nor more his resolution chide. Come death ring out the nuptial bell ! Be tliou his bride ! ! W. R. OALPINE, PRINTKR, 8ELDY. > This book IS DUE on the last date stamped below. 10M-1 1-50 '2555 470 reminoton rand inc.zo Vi^UfeiTY 6t^ CAJIFOKNIA LOS ANGELES Lie SOUTHERN REGIOI pp Vailton - p339 finswer to 713 a Montgomery' s celebratedf poem of The grave BiNDERTjMTl iq.^fi- PR 5839 KV713a