LINES

ON THE

GRAVE OF A SUICIDE.

By strangers left upon a lonely shore,

Unknown, unhonour'd, was the friendless dead:

For child to weep, or widow to deplore,

There never came to his unburied head

All from his dreary habitation fled.

Nor will the lantern'd fisherman at eve

Launch on that water by the witches' tow'r, Where hellebore and hemlock seem to weave Round its dark vaults a melancholy bow'r, For spirits of the dead at night's enchanted hour.

They dread to meet thee, poor unfortunate!
Whose crime it was, on life's unfinish'd road

To feel the stepdame buffetings of fate,

And render back thy being's heavy load.

Ah! once, perhaps, the social passions glow'd

In thy devoted bosom-and the hand

That smote its kindred heart, might yet be prone

To deeds of

mercy. Who may understand

Thy many woes, poor suicide, unknown ?—

He who thy being gave shall judge of thee alone.

ODE TO WINTER.

WHEN first the fiery-mantled sun

His heavenly race began to run;
Round the earth and ocean blue,

His children four the Seasons flew.

First, in green apparel dancing,

The young Spring smil'd with angel grace;

Rosy Summer next advancing,

Rush'd into her sire's embrace:

Her bright-hair'd sire, who bade her keep

For ever nearest to his smiles,

On Calpe's olive shaded steep,

On India's citron-cover'd isles:

More remote and buxom-brown,

The Queen of vintage bow'd before his throne;

A rich pomegranate gemm'd her crown,

A ripe sheaf bound her zone.

But howling Winter fled afar,

To hills that prop the polar star,

And loves on deer-born car to ride,

With barren darkness by his side.

Round the shore where loud Lofoden

Whirls to death the roaring whale,

Round the hall where Runic Odin

Howls his war-song to the gale;

Save when adown the ravag'd globe

He travels on his native storm,

Deflow'ring nature's grassy robe,

And trampling on her faded form :

Till light's returning lord assume

The shaft that drives him to his polar field,

Of power to pierce his raven plume,

And chrystal cover'd shield.