Poetry.

MONODY TO THE MEMORY OF CIIATTERTON . BY MRS , M . ROBINSON . IF grief can deprecate the wrath of heaven ; Or human frailty hope to be forgiven !

Ere now thy sainted spirit bends its way To the bland regions of celestial dav ; Erenow , thy soul , immer .-d'd in purest air , Smiles at the triumphs of supreme Despair ; Orbath'd in seas of endless bliss , disdains The vengeful memory of mortal pains ; Yet shall the Muse a ' fond memorial give To shield thy name , and bid thy genius ! ive .

• Too-proud for p ity , and too poor for praise , No voice to cherish , and no hand to raise ; Torn , stung , and sated , with this ' mortal [ coil , ' This weary anxious scene of fruitless toil ; Not a / I the graces that to youth belong , Norall the energy of sacred song ; Nora !! that Fancy , all lhat Genius gave , Could snaich

thy wounded spirit from ihe grave . Hard -was thy lot , from ev ' rv comfort torn ; InPoverty's cold armscondemn'dto mourn-To live by mental toil , e ' en when the brain Could scarce itstremblingfarultiessustaiii ; To mark the dreary minutes slowly creep : Each day to labourj and each night io tveep ; Till ihe last of

' murmur thy frantic soul , In proud concealment from its mansion stole , While Envy , springing from her lurid cave , Snatch'd the young laurels from thy rugged grave . " So the pale primrose , sweetest bud of May , Scarce wakes to beauty ere it feels decay ; While baleful weeds their hidden poii-ons

pour , Choke the green sod . and wither ev ' ryflovv ' r . Immui-VI in shades , from busy scenes rcmov'd ; > No sound to solace—but the verse he lov'd : No soothing numbers harmoniz'd his ear ; " No feeling bosom gave his griefs a tear ; Obscurely born—no gen ' rous friend he found [ ground

. To lead his trembling steps o'er classic No patron fill'd his heart with flatt ' ring hope , No tutor'd lesson gave his genius scope ; Yet , while poetic ardour nerv'd each thought , [ taught , And -Reason sanction'd what Ambition J-Iesoar'd beyond the narrow-spells that bind

The slow percept ionsofthe vulgar mind ; The fireoncekihtlled by the breath of'Fame , Her restless pinions fann'd the glitt ' ring flsme [ just ; Warm'd by its rays , he thought each vision For conscious Virtue seldom feels distrust . Frail are the charms delusive Fancy-shows , And short the bliss her ficklesmilebestows ; Yet the bright prospect pleas'd hisdazzl'd view , [ true ; E ? ch hope seero'd ripen'd and each phantom

Fill'd with delight , his unsuspecting mind Weigh'tl not the grov'ling treach ' ries of mankind ; Forwhife a niggardboon hiswantssupply'd , And Nature's claim subdu'd the toice of Pride : Hi timid talents own'd aborrow'd name , Andg . iin'ri by Fiction what was due to

Fame . With secret labour , and with tasterefin'd . This son of mis'rv form'd his infant mind ! When op ' ning Reason ' s earliest scenes besran , [ man I The dawn of c' ildhood niark'd the future Hesrorn'd the puerile sports of vulgar boys , His little heart aspir'd to nobler joys ; ¦¦

Creative Fancy ing'd his few short hours , While soothing Hope adorn'd his path with flow ' rs , Yet Fame's recording hand notrophygave , Save the sad tear—to decorate his grave . Yet in this dark , mysterious scene of woe , Conviction's flame shall shed a radiant glow : . [ fire

His infant Muse shall hind with nerves of The sacrilegious hand that stabs its sire . Methinks I hear bis wand ' rmg shade complain , While mournful Echo lingers in the strain ; Thro' the lone aisle his restlessspiritcalls , His phantom glides along the minster's * walls ; [ trod

. , Where many an hour his devious footsteps Ere fate resign'd him to his pitying God . Yet , shall the Muse , to gentlest sorrow prone , [ own ; Adopt his cause , and make his griefs her Ne ' er shall her CIIATTERTON ' S neglected

name Fade in inglorious dreams of doubtful fame ; Shallhe , whose pen immortalgeniusgave , Sleep unlamentod in an unknown grave ? No , —the fond Muse shall spurn the base neglect , [ tect , The verse she cherish'd , she shal ! still pro-And if unpitiec ! pangs the mind can move , Orgracefulnumberswarm the heart tolove ;

If the fine raptures of poetic fire , Delight to vibrate on the trembling lyre ; If sorrow claims the kind embalming tear , Or worth opprest excites a pangsincere ? Some kindred soul shall pour the song sublime , [ twine , And with the cypress bough the laurel Whose weeping leaves the wint'ry blast

shall wave [ grave . In mournful murmurs o ' er thy unbless'd And tho' no lofty vase , orsculptur'dbust , Bends o ' er the sod lhat hides thy sacred dust ; Tho' no long line of ancestry betrays The pride of relatives , or pomp of praise : Tho' o ' er thy name a blushing nation rears Oblivion ' s wing—to MdeReflection ' s tears ! Still shall thy verse indazz'ling lustre live , And claim a brighter wreath than wealth can give .