C THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES SAMUEL LOW. Fancy's lovely, fascinating child, Sweet Poesy, through all her flowery walks, Led thee enamour'd. IN TWO VOLUMES. NEW-YORK: Prmted by T. & J. SWORDS, No. 99 Pearl-Street. ~1 80O. P R E F A CiE. PS 7 l '' IT was the original intention of the Author of the fol lowing Poems to comprise, in one volume, such of them. as he deemed the best; in which case he would have given them to the public without any prefatory remarks; but the partiality of his literary friends having induced him to publish, in two volumes, nearly the whole of his poetic writings, some of them may, perhaps, require an apology. Very few of the Poems were written with a view to publication : several were composed within the last eight months; previous to which period, though frequently solicited by his friends, the Author did riot contemplate printing them, Many of the pieces were written at a very early age, and most of them under singular disadvantages; among which, application to public business, for many years past, was not the least; not only because it allowed little leisure for literary pursuits, but because, it is of a nature peculiarly inimical to the cultivation of poetic talent. For his own amusement and improvement he has writ ten at the request of his friends he publishes, May i, iSoo. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST Page. ODE on the Death of General George Washington ... 9 Camira and Angelica 16 Elegy on the Death of Dr. Joseph Youle 36 Elegy sacred to the Memory of deceased Friends .... 42 Epitaph on John F. Roorbach, Esq 50 Epitaph on a Friend 51 Another 52 Verses on the Death of Mr. John Loudon 53 Inscription 1 for the North-River Bath 55 The Lover's Complaint 57 Sonnet to an Infant 63 Absence , 64 Ode to Charity 65 Ode for St. John's Day, June 24, 1790 67 Anthem for St. John's Day, June 24, 1793 69 Masonic Hymn 72 To Kotzebue 74 On Milton's Paradise Lost 84 Hymn for Christmas-Day 88 Hymn to Liberty . . . - 90 Song 93 The Constitution 94 Ode on the Federal Procession 98 On the Arrival of the late President of the United States . . 104 To a Friend, on his Marriage 106 To a Rose 109 On the Instability of Friendship Ill Alphonso and Agnes 1 15 On Peace between America and Great-Britain 123 Ode to Health .137 POEMS. " ODE Ott THE DEATH OF GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. Recited by Mr. HODGKINSON, in the New-York Theatre^ on the 8th of January, 1800. jCROM dread JEHOVAH'S everlasting throne, Celestial Wisdom on my numbers beam; With thy inspiring gifts come down, And let thy sacred light my off -'ring crown, For vast, sublime, and arduous is my theme. Erewhile I woo'd fictitious aid, And on young Fancy's pinions soar'cl j Or with the tuneful sisters stray'd, And all their flow'ry paths explor'd; But now I hail bright Truth, whose vivid ray Illumines man's benighted way ; io -LOW'S POEMS. / Oh ! from thine altar let the fire My elegiac verse inspire ; But ah! can even Truth or Wisdom tell What speechless feelings ev'ry bosom swell, How mighty is the loss we all endure; Our WASHINGTON, in glory grown mature > Columbia?* father, patriot, sage, The pride, the glory of the age, Now sleeps in dust; our eyes no more Shall view the matchless hero we deplore ! Ah! stranger, why that mute, astonish'd gaze, On these sad signs a mourning land displays? Dost thou not see how sackcloth shrouds Columbia's grief-devoted race? What tears bedew each manly face? How chill December's blackest clouds Obscure the wide cerulean space? How Beauty's eye grows dim, and all our fair The sad habiliments of Sorrow wear ? How Clamour and Dissention are compos'd? How Pleasure's thousand avenues are clos'd? How mortals all their busy cares suspend? They mourn, alas ! their sire, their chief, their friend. LOW's POEMS. Ah ! who could call this burst of sorrow forth. This tribute due to unexampled worth, But WASHINGTON! that great, exalted name, Which made proud nobles sicken at his fame, And monarchs inly pine at regal birth? But vain is mortal eulogy, these lays In vain attempt to tell his matchless praise: Our grief exceeds this awful pomp of woe, His merit beggars all external show. Yes, a bereaved -world will soon deplore, That now the world's best friend exists no more ! And lo! where all Death's dread insignia come: How melancholy sounds the shrouded drum ! A oum'rous train, to whom his name is dear. Attend his honor'd dust, in sable clad, With downcast, humid eyes, and bosoms sad, And follow slow the consecrated bier; The mute procession, wrap'd in death-like gloom, With solemn obsequies approach his tomb; The warrior's breast with big-emotion heaves, When the black pall the dismal coffin leaves, And the drear sepulchre its precious charge receives; iz LOW'S And all the martial band, with tearful eyes, See where their dear, illustrious chieftain lies; His hallow'd urn unfading laurels grace, And warlike trophies flourish round its base! The solemn dirge, with, sadly-tuneful notes, Sublimely slow, on Air's still bosom floats; Funereal peals our WASHINGTON deplore, And cannon sound his fame from shore to shore. Ah ! well may freemen his decease lament, Whom gracious Heav'n to their deliv'rance sent. When mad Ambition forg'd the galling chains Which Freedom loathes and man disdains; When Cruelty, fell murd'rer, stood, Thirsting, panting for our blood, And carnage strew'd th' ensanguin'd plains; When curst O/ifiression, with gigantic stride, Spread desolation far and wide; When harvests perish'd, cities blaz'd, And lawless Power advanc'd with arm uprais'd, To crush the hallow'd fane which Freedom rear'd, Our shield, our strength, our last resource, The mighty WASHINGTON appear'd, And turu'd aside its vengeful force; LOW's POEMS, - % . When Perseverance shrunk aghast, And //jiff's bright rays were overcast; When, paraliz'd and weak, our little band Of suff' ring heroes inourn'd, that soon their land Would groan beneath a foreign yoke, Their gallant leader, in that trying hour, Exerted more than mortal power: He rous'd Columbia's energies once more; \ Columbia from her lethargy awoke : Himself a host, the champion rose, He hurl'd War's thunder on our foes; TV embattled foe, astonish'd, fled; Immortal laurels grac'd the victor's head! Glad lo paeans then his triumphs sung; But now our harps are on the willows hung, Or only to the strains of sorrow strung: Ah ! let the brave their heavy loss deplore, Their valiant chief shall never conquer more ! ^ The struggle o'er, a statesman view him next: W'hen jarring views Columbia's councils vex'd, And weak disunion all her plans perplex'd; The vet'ran sage presided o'er the band, Who gave the fed'ral compact to our landj SB 14 LOW'S POEMS. And when recall'd from Yemen's peaceful shade, The matchless man his country's call obey'd ! With ready zeal the sacrifice he made. Unmov'd by foreign menaces or smiles, Unaw'd by Faction's clamours, threats, or wiles; With God-like port our Cincinnatus stood: Awful in virtue, firm in rectitude, He still magnanimously sought our good : Our guardian chief, with unabated zeal, Still greatly labour'd for the public weal: In council sage, and skill'd to rule, he well Could ward the threat'ned evil, or repel; While he prepar'd for war, establish'd peace, And caus'd misrule and anarchy to cease : He guided well the complex wheels of state, And bore a nation's cares, a pond'rous weight ! Ah ! let the great, the good, the wise deplore Departed worth which ne'er shall bless us more ! Thus shines the SUN, when first his morning ray , Sheds on our world a radiant flood of day; Thus from the zenith pours his fervid light; And thus he leaves a world involv'd in night ! LOW'S POEMS. 1$ Insatiate Death ! thy triumph now is vain ; What though thy dart a WASHINGTON hath slain, Yet boast, fell tyrant! of thy prize no more; For lo! where seraphs with thy conquest soar; On wings of love they bear him up sublime, Far, far beyond the scenes of sense and time ! Heav'n's everlasting portals open wide! Celestial glories pour their dazzling tide ! The heav'nly minstrels loud hosannas sing, And his pure spirit to its Maker bring; In GOD'S effulgent presence, lo ! he bows; A crown of well-earn'd glory decks his brows ! Sov'reign of worlds ! whose uncontroul'd behest, Or nations punishes, or makes them blest; Oh! let Columbia still thy goodness share, And make some future WASHINGTON thy care; Or, if his like must never bless our earth, Teach us at least to emulate his worth! CAMIRA AND ANGELICA. The Reader will find the interesting Story which is the subject of the following Stanzas among M. FLORIAN'S Tales. " X 1 LOW on my tears, and swell the flood " Which prov'd a mother's grave; " My streaming eyes, let tears of blood " My sire's cold body lave : / " That mother's love, alas ! no more " CAMIRA'S heart shall cheer; " And, my dear sire, his sufferings o^er, " A breathless corse lies here. " Ah, wretched, lost CAMIRA! why " The plaint and bitter tear? " To end thy sorrows is to die; " Oblivion's draught is near!" LOW's POEMS. 17 Thus sob'd a hapless Indian swain, O'erwhelm'd with filial grief; P'rom agonizing mental pain He sought, in death, relief: He ran to meet the fatal flood, Which prov'd his mother's grave; But near at hand a stranger stood, The desp'rate youth to save. " Hold, frantic boy!" the stranger cry'd, " 'The impious deed forbear," C AMIR A ttyn'd his head aside; An aged Priest stood there. ' (Across the rough Atlantic wave The rev'rend father came, The Indian tribes to teach and save, LORENZO was his name. By science was his mind inform'd; His heart was blest by grace; Benevolence his bosom wann'd, And mantled in his face : LOW's POEMS. He lov'd the broken heart to bind, The vicious to reclaim; He glow'd with love of human kind, Their good was all his aim : His heart was tender and sincere,. He knew no vice or guile; For ev'ry wretch he had a tear, For ev'ry friend a smile: He sought, by mildness, to allure The harmless Indian race; His holy life, his precepts pure, Made many^truth embrace.) The meek and venerable sage Congenial anguish feels; And longs those sorrows to assuage, Which now the youth reveals: He strove to tell the piteous tale, Which did his utt'rance choke ; And good LORENZO'S face turn'd pale, While thus C A MIR A spoke: LOW'S POEMS. 19 " Yon forest and this lovely plain " My fathers once enjoy'd ; " But cruel, avaricious Spain, " Their peaceful state annoy'd. ,-*** ^^^^ " The fierce exterminating crew " Set all our huts on flame ; *' To yonder distant mountains flew '* The race from whom I came. " Not long that refuge they enjoy'd: *' Soon Brasil's hostile bands " My woe-devoted race destroy'd, *' Or banish'd from their lands. " My parents were compell'd to run, " With me, thro' deserts wild ; " I was their lov'd, their only son, '' I was their only child. " Since first I breath'd the vital air, w They liv'd in me alone ; " Sure, never was parental care So sweetly, fondly shown ! 20 LOW's POEMS. i " When I rejoic'd they knew no woes; " When I was ill they wept ; " And only could enjoy repose *' When their C A MIR A slept. " For me the husband and the wife *' Bore sufferings, toils and death ; ' *' Ah, worfis me ! to save my life, " They both resign'd their breath ! / " To stem the fatal current, we " Our paddles ply'd in vain, " Till, floating down the stream, a tree " Swift split our barque in twain. " Ah, my lov'd father! ne'er shall I " Forget that dreadful hour, " When, struggling, sinking, thou didst cry, ** * I faint, I lose my power !' i " My mother then her arms withdrew, " Which clung around my sire, " And cry'd, * Oh, save my son and you *' Shall see me blest expire !' LOW's POEMS. " These eyes beheld the billows close " Upon a mother's head; " No more my Gu AC OLD A rose; " She sleeps among the dead ! " ALCAIPA then, with all his strength, " To save CAMIRA try'd; " And reach'd the neighb'ring shore at length,- *' He reach'd the shore and died ! " Oh ! could this warm embrace restore " My sire to life and me! {< Or I had sunk, to rise no more, " Lov'd mother, sunk with thee!" Tears down LORENZO'S visage fall, And with CAMIRA'S blend; His hands entomb CAMIRA'S all. His best, his only friend. \ He bade the mourning orphan come, Another sire to prove; He took bereav'd CAMIRA home, And gave hiro all his love; LOW's POEMS. And rear'd the youth with fost'ring care, And lov'd to call him son; For him the frequent pious prayer Approach'd the heav'nly throne; With Consolation's healing balm He lull'd his grief to rest; Bade Peace his troubled spirit calm, And Hope illume his breast: He sooth'd his sorrows, dry'd the tears Which filial love made flow ; LORENZO'S love, and riper years, At length assuag'd his woe : Him Virtue's charms the father taught ; To him he did impart The lore with which his head was fraught^ And virtues of his, heart. And oft C A MIR. A bless'd the turf Where poor ALGAIPA laid; And oft his fancy, in the surf, Saw GUACOLDA'S shade! LOW's POEMS. 03 One day, as there he paid the tear Which Virtue loves to shed, A. piercing shriek assail'd his ear, And struck his soul with dread. He turn'd, and lo! a female fled; A serpent swift pursu'd; The youth first smote the monster dead, And then the virgin view'd. Her strength had fail'd now lifeless, dumb) She fill'd CAMIRA'S arms, Who gaz'd, as he sustained her home, And.wonder'd at her charms. ANGELICA was young, and fair, And beautiful, and good ; And from FED RE R AS, viceroy there. The maid deriv'd her blood: Her gratitude the fair one show'd; Whene'er C A MIR A came Her lovely cheeks with blushes glovv'd, That spoke a warmer flame ; 24 LOW'S POEMS. Nor less the young CAMIRA'S heart The virtuous passion own'd; Where late he felt Affliction's dart, There Love now sat cnthron'd. To sage LOSENZO he reveals ANGELICA'S dear namej And, while he utters what he feels, His cheeks are all on flame : Not so the priest, the healthful bloom Forsakes his furrow'd cheeks; His brow is overspread with gloom; He trembles while he speaks : \ "Alas! my son," the father cry 'd, " I grieve to hear thy tale; " O'er stern PEDRERAS' pow'r and pride " Thou never wilt prevail: " Then quench, my son, this dang'rous fire, " Before it be too late ; " Should wrath PEDRERAS' breast inspire *' I tremble for thy fate ; LOW'S POEMS. " Mean Av'rice all his adions sways, " Thou hast no gold, my son ; " To gold alone his court he pays, " And I, alas! have none." \ " Gold! yes, the miser shall have gold," CAMIRA quick reply'd; " But, must ANGELICA be sold " By Avarice and Pride? " Haste, father, to PEDRERAS say, " The dross for which he sighs, " If I can win ANGELICA, " Shall soon delight his eyes."" The father said no more, but strait To stern PEDRERAS flew; The sordid being's joy was great When he the errand knew : This offer but enflam'd the more His boundless love of gold; He hop'd that for a mine of ore His daughter might be sold. e* LOW'S POEMS. " Let him explore for me a mine," v The crafty viceroy said, " And this adopted son of thine " Shall then obtain the maid." LORENZO to his son return'd, To tell the luckless news; C A MIR A the condition spurn'd, And nobly did refuse. " These terms which Av'rice does propose," The sad C A MIR A cry'd, " When I accept, may all the woes " Of guilt my life betide ! " If perfidy, as well as gold, " ANGELICA must buy, " She never can to me be sold," He said and heav'd a sigh. " For if I should the paths disclose " Which lead the golden way, <{ My people, to their murd'rous foes, That virtues, eminent like his, can die, His friends shall often witness with a sigh; And say, when passing by this well-known grave, * Here rests the good, the just, the wise, the brave;' 'Mong fallen men so few like him remain, " We scarce shall look upon his like again." The friend of human kind, his country's friend, And, in one word, his eulogy to end, (Let truth say more of monarchs if it can) Here lies " GOD'S noblest work an honest man. 1 * VERSES ON THE DEATH OP Mr. JOHN LOUDON; Sung in Lodge on the night after his interment. .flfr. Loudon ivas slain ly the accidental discharge of a musket during a Military Review^ friend is gone! this splemn hour Too well describes what we deplore; Our sorrow, and these weeds attest, What virtues warm'd his manly breast. Our brother's gone! ye who revere Masonic worth, ah, drop a tear ! The tear of grief your friend is slain ! The tear of joy he lives again! 'Twas Love the fatalVeapon aim'd; Mysterious Heav'n its offspring claim'd; From GOD his gentle soul he drew! To GOD his gentle spirit flew ! 54 LOW's POEMS. Dear LOUD ON ! much lamented youth! Ah! teach our souls this awful truth, Soon each of us must fall, like you ; But shall we rise triumphant too? We shall, if first, like you, we place Our feet on Virtue's steadfast base; We then in peace our eyes shall close, And rise, we trust, as you arose I INSCRIPTION ton. : TJYLOR's NORTH- RIFE R Jtl-RE Sol emerges from the eastern main, Here plunge and half his fervor shall be vain; Or when his orb to Thetis seems to sink, No longer loiter on fair Hudson's brink. Immortal Hudson! fam'd in ev'ry clime, Gentle, tho' vast tho' beautiful, sublime; Prom northern heights he draws his crystal tides, And greets our shores as he majestic glides; Hygeia's blooming train to us he brings, And healing from his ample bosom springs. While pigmy rivers flow in classic strain, Shall Hudson's mighty waters flow in vain? Let ancient bards extol their pools of mud, 'Tis mine to sing the clear, translucent flood : No stream we need, like Egypt's boasted Nile, With feculence to fertilize the soil, While genial showers enrich Manhattan's islej 56 LOW's POEMS. For rapid Hudson, deep, saline and clear, Wafts purity, and health, and beauty here. Transcendent river! while thy current flows, Or the bright mirror Beauty's image shows, In thee the fair shall view her form, and lave, And man still seek thy cool, refreshing wave; From thee the young new vigour shall derive; Thy healthful stream shall feeble age revive; Thy virtues even mental aid dispense, And mankind go with cheerful spirits hence; The fair from thy embrace more lovely shall retire, And that which cools their own, their lovers' breasts shall fire! 1799. ( 57 ) LOVER's COMPLAINT. Written in 1784. RETURN, Contentment, placid maid] Who once this bosom didst pervade; With cheerful look and graceful mien, Revisit this once happy scene; And bring thy fair companions too, The cherub Peace, and Health with rosy hue: But Health, Content, and all terrestrial bliss, Are only found where STREPHON'S DEJ,IA is. Then come^ bereaved, sympathetic dove, Whose constancy and innocence I love; Thou too, sweet songster, lovelorn Philomel \ In dulcet strains thy passion tell ; Let thy mellifluous warblings swell, Till melody enchants the list'ning grove: 58 LOWS POEMS. Come, tuneful bird, and with me mourn A lover, hopeless and forlorn ; And soothingly thy wild notes join, 1 In unison with these complaints of mine ; For much I love those plaintive lays of thine. We will invoke the lovely absent fair, To smile benignant on our melting prayer; And Echo shall reverberate her praise, Whose beauteous image STREPHON'S bosom sways! Yet, oh, Contentment, goddess fair! Heart-cheering presence! heav'n-born child! Lamb like ! beautiful and mild ! I would again thy blissful influence share; Oh, come, " with healing on thy wings!" For grief consumes my life away, By silent night, by cheerful day ; Nor night, nor cheerful day enjoyment brings: Where Winter wraps the northern pole, ( Or where Arcadian beauty springs, Alike I wander, wrap'd in gloom ; Alike to me revolving seasons roll; Still anxious fears and doubts disturb my soul, While DELIA'S Charms in distant regions bloom. LOW's POEMS. But I, alas ! still raise, in Th' impassion'd, supplicating strain, To blest Content, and Peace, angelic fair; For where, ah! where can they be found? Nor Solitude, nor Pleasure's giddy round, Can dissipate this heart-corroding care : DELIA is peace and pure delight, . Sad STREPHON'S antidote against despair; She, she alone can peace and joy excite, Ineffable sensations can impart, And shed upon his bosom sun-shine bright; DELIA can cure " the sickness of his heart, " Which languishes for bliss the fates defer}" For his affections centre all in her : Oh, may he live to number happier days, And yet, with ecstacy, on her perfections gaze. Heart-sinking Absence, foe to -life! Thine is this perpetual strife Between gay Hope and merciless Despair; Thou dost this doating, love-sick bosom tear, Too oft with causeless, but severe alarms, While DELIA'S far from these protecting arms: Thou dost, with jealous fires, inflame my soul, 6o LOW's POEMS. Which harrow all my powers with scorpion fangsj Which ev'ry gentle passion can controul, Inflicting agonizing pangs. Hated Absence ! thou hast slain All that did my mind sustain, And hast left me nought but pain, Ling'ring daj.s and restless nights, Sleep disturb'd by wild affrights: In vain I sigh, In vain implore Some pitying power To aid my cry, Till Hope's expiring rays in evanescence die. When vernal days their genial influence yield, And clothe with life and verdure ev'ry field; When blythe Aurora from the orient moves, And smiling sun-beams paint the lawns and groves;" Or Ev'ning's shade resumes its sober reign; 'Tis irksome all to STREPHON wretched swain! i No charms for thee has Spring: For thee no more the feather'd people sing; With DELIA. Nature's scenery took wing: LOW's POEMS. i No more do streams meander thro' the trees; DELIA is absent nothing now can please; Or vainly murmur, as they glide O'er, the pebbles, which subside; On their margins verdure growing, Vernal zephyrs gently blowing; Beauteous flowers the eye amusing, And Arabian sweets diffusing : Congenial Nature sighs; To me her varied beauties she denies, While Nature's DELIA thus prolongs her stay: Then, oh! no longer thy return delay, But "haste, my love; dear charmer, come away 1'^ Lamented be that inauspicious day Which took my DELIA from these shores away, To distant climes forlorn, And left her faithful STREPHON long to mourn His choicest treasure from his bosom torn : Ah, day unblest! but hold ! no more complain, Fond heart, for joy now dawns on thee again: Behold the fair one come ; With love-sped haste she braves the dang'rous main, To-bless her native home; & LOW's POEMS. I see, I see her smiles divine ! Love's supreme delights are mine! My heart o'erflows ! My bosom glows! Sorrow fades! Joy invades Th' intoxicated senses! Doubt, and fear, and grief are o'er, Again does Love his thrilling raptures pour, Again I clasp the nymph whom I adore, And STREPHON'S wish'd-for bliss at last commences. Two kindred hearts shall now their loves confess, And Hymen's sanction our attachment bless; Soon shall the fair my constancy repay, And cpnjugal endearments crown each dayj Our mutual vows shall mutual trust ensure, And our felicity with life endure. SONNET TO AN INFANT. MY little cherub, lovely, blooming boy ! Whose sweet endearments can my cares beguile; Whose antic sports, and accents infantile, From musings sad can 'wake my soul to joy. O'er thy lov'd features plays the dimpling smile, And health now mantles in thy downy cheek; But thou art yet a babe; and very weak Are all thy faculties; dear, fragile germe Of future man, that heav'n-aspiring worm! If sickness menace thee, or aught molest, Then all the father thrills in ev'ry nerve; Then speechless feelings agitate the breast Which would its charmer cherish and preserve, And there thy fondness clings, and there thou art caress'd. ABSENCE. JXEMOTE from all my soul holds dear, How slow the minutes glide; Alternate sadness, grief and fear. Disturb my anxious bosom here, Where ANNA don't reside. To her endearments lost awhile, Gay Nature hath no charms; Nor rural scenes, nor Friendship's smile, PA LEMON'S passion can beguile, While far from ANNA'S arms. i To yonder cloud-encompass'd height I look with longing eyes; How slowly sinks yon orb of light, And, ah ! the space which bars my sight From ev'ry thing I prize! LOW'S POEMS. , 65 Soon may that power, whose wisdom still Hath mark'd with good, as well as ill, My variegated life, PA LEMON to his love convey; Oh! speed, kind heav'n, the blissful day, When he may call her wife ! ODE TO CHARITY. Sung in St. Paul's Church on the 24th day of Jun, 1789, being the Anniversary of the Festival of St. John the Baptist. RECITATIVE. 1* ROM regions of immortal bliss above, Impart thy heav'nly emanations, Love! Soul of our Order! Patron of this Day! Inspire our hearts, and prompt the .solemn lay. AIR. Come, Beauty of th' eternal Sire! Whose justice we adore, Whose power and wisdom we admire, Thy smiles attract us morej^ 66 y LOW's POEMS. Faith may command the visual ray, Futurity to scan; And Hofte, by Fancy led astray, May picture heav'n to man: But thou, blest Charity! canst give Compassion's thrill divine; From thee we heav'nly joys derive, For joy and heav'n are thine! CHORUS. And when Faith and Hope shall fade, When heav'n's glories are display'd, When, with transports vast and new, Things ineffable we view; Then, Religion's source and aim, Love shall still exist the same; Love divine shall be our theme, Love eternal and supreme ! This, this alone our constant heav'n shall prove- The GOD of heav'n is everlasting Love! ODE FOR St. JOHN'S DAY, Junez^ 1790.' performed at the Consecration of the Building creeled for the use of Holland Lodge, and the Washington Chapter of Royal. Arch Masons. RECITATIVE. L HE work is done let praise pervade these courts; The work which Wisdom plann'd, and Strength supports j Now Beauty adds an all-enliv'ning smile, And joins with us to consecrate the pile. Thus when Creation, at th' Almighty nod, From Chaos rose, and own'd its maker, Gop, The morning stars, in heav'nly concert play'd, And angels sung the wonders he had made ! AIR. Thou who didst launch, thro' boundless spacCj Ten thousand worlds, and fix their base Where Wisdom, Power and Order join, To prove the mighty system thine ! 68 LOW's POEMS. Stupendous Architect ! when man, (An atom in Creation's plan) Attempts to tell thy wond'rous ways, How poor, how languid are his lays! And shall he, with thy deeds compare His earth-born skill, his works of air? Great Cause of worlds immense, how vain! All perfe6t Being, how profane ! But when, in all its charms array'd, Thy Moral Beauty is display'd, 'Tis good for man to imitate Perfections infinitely great! For, while we own the glory thine, And shout Omnipotence divine! Grace shall accept the off'ring, paid By creatures whom that grace hath made, And when, thro' universal space, All Labour shall to Rest give place j The vast reward to virtue due, Complete fruition shall ensue \ LOW's POEMS. 69 '* CHORUS. Let glory then redound To heav'n's eternal King; In whom our Wisdom still is found, From whom our Strength and Beauty spring? ANTHEM. Sung in Trinity Church, on St. John's Day, June 24, 179*1 by the Episcopal Charity Children. FROM the seat of bliss above, Shed thy genial influence, Love ; Friend of man the Mason's friend, Heav'n-born CJiarity descend! Beauty of th' eternal Sire ! Whom, for thee, we most admire; Rapture of th' angelic throng, Fire our hearts, and prompt our song! G ;o LOW'S POEMS, Cold is selfish man at best, When he succours the distrest; But, without thy soft'ning thrill Wretches must be wretched still. Servile Fear, the world's applause, Or stern Duty's frigid laws, May th* unwilling hand controul, But can never warm the soul. How unlike thy purer flame, Charity! thou sacred name; Mild subduer ! healing dart! Jiumanizer of the heart! FaitJt, with intellectual eye, Things eternal may descry : Ardent Hofte, by Fancy fir'd, May conceive the heav'n desir'd; But when Charity divine, In the soul vouchsafes to shine, Then it feels for human woe, enjoys a heav'n below I LOW's POEMS. 71 # , How the full-fraught bosom glows! From it what compassion flows ! Vital spark, oh ! strike each breast ; Flint shall yield, and man be blest! And, when Faith and Hope shall fade, When heav'n's glories are displayed, When, with transports vast and new, Things ineffable we view Then Religion's source and aim, Love shall still exist the same; Love alone our heav'n shall prove, For our GOD is endless Love! A MASONIC HYMN, .LET the wond'rous theme be sung, How from Chaos Order sprung; How the great, eternal mind Wisdom, Strength and Beauty join'd. Wisdom first the basis laid, Strength the mighty fabric made, Beauty smil'd, and joyous light Shone on all divinely bright. Wisdom from th' Almighty came- Wisdom is our Master's name, Western Strength supports our hands, In the south our Beauty stands. See the Sun majestic rise! Lo^ he gains meridian skies! Now his glory sets in night, Soon again, to bless our sight ! Thus our brother's mind shall grow, Knowing, and still more to know, Till illum'd, the mental eye, Phoebus like, shall mount the sky, Strike the bold Masonic lyre ! Feel you not the gen'rous fire ? Sound a louder note, and sing, Jiofe shall bear us on her wing! Bear us up at length sublime, Far beyond the bourn of time; Then shall each Masonic grace To unceasing Love give place. To KOTZEBUE. To thee, Germania's pride, the ornament, And friend, and benefactor of the world; The purest, sweetest among modern bards Who tread the -difficult dramatic path, Or whom Thalia counts among her sonif- To thee I fain would pay the tribute due To signal excellence, to merit rare, And genius various, vigorous like thine: Of thy transcendent talents, fain would I, In strains that well should suit the subject, sing; And tell how rich thy fancy, how enlarged Thy philanthropic, energetic mind, Thy genius how original and vast, And how propitious is thy moral muse: But all thy various excellence to sing, And paint thee truly, were to paint-like thee. Not on me, KOTZEBUE, devolves the task; Enchanting dramatist ! 'tis not for me To blazon" thy renown, or strive to swell, 'With my presumptuous, feeble breath to swell LOW's POEMS, 7 'The son'rous note which Fame's loud trumpet blows, Which tells the sentimental world of thee, And bids true taste to read thee and admire. Yet I must jeopardize my little mite Of impotent applause; tho' impotent, Sincere and cordial, emanating frpm A heart to nature and thy painting true: Yes, often have thy scenic pictures, oft Those moral truths and sentiments refin'd, Which designate the labours of thy pen, And stamp the chaste dramatic pages thine, Upon that heart impress'd their magic power, Exciting exquisite emotions there. Inimitable bard 1 exceli'd by none, Save him whose labours honour Britain's isle; Thou second SHAKESPEARE for, like him in love With nature, all her works and ways, and all Her various workings in the human heart, Well dost thou know, and well exhibit too; Combining alt that's just and wise in man, Whate'er is amiable, noble, great, And dignify'd, and beautiful, and good, In one accomplished character j to wia 76 , LOW's POEMS. Our souls to virtue, and to make us see Its beauty, and its sacred influence feel. Nor dost thou " Nature's modesty o'erstep," To aid, concentrate, polish, and perfect All that is good in multifarious man; For, Nature's wond'rous art perform'd the same, When she produc'd th' accomplished WASHINGTON. Yes, Nature is thy perfect pattern, she, At once thine idol and thy polar star, Claims all thy rev'rence, fashions all thy plans. Of her enamour'd, still dost thou delight To shew thine idol in her best attire, Her loveliest actions, most engaging forms, And colours most attractive; lovely most When the great characters thy pencil draws ; Their nicest traits, their strongest lineaments, By all the scenic beauties of the stage, Are aided and preserv'd ; and when enforc'd And grac'd by HODGKINSON'S theatric powers; His powers can give thine interesting scenes Increasing int'rest ; well does he conceive, With nice discernment and a taste correct, Thy numberless perfections; well does he LOW's POEMS. 77 Thine elegant simplicity display, With all the actor's skill, the actor's graces Thy charming pictures, by his happy aid, Strike the rapt auditor's awaken'd sense With all the beauty, emphasis and force Thou didst intend ; and make him see, and think, And feel, and understand, almost like thee. In ev'ry point to thee and Nature true, To ev'ry word and sentiment of thine He gives appropriate energy and beauty, And ev'ry passage yields its just effect. Whether his animated acting rouse The glow of patriot fervour, or inspire The love of honour, freedom, truth, or if It make the virtuous mind abhorrent turn From the dread view of hell-engender'd vice, Oppression, cruelty, ingratitude, And savage Just, and scoundrel perfidy; Or if the melting pathos of the scene Infuse its sweet, benign and subtle influence In the susceptible, ingenuous hearr, Whichever is to sympathy alive, And ouivers at the slightest touch of woe; Which knows to realize the vast distress, 78 LOW's POEMS. And tender int'rest of the tragic scene, Enjoys the bliss of sentiment, and feels The enviable luxury of tears Alike thou dost enlighten, please, instruct, Reform the manners, regulate the taste, Delight the fancy, and amend the heart. Sweet philosophic poet! in whose works The blaze of native genius, and the depths Of solid science, happily unite : In whose enchanting dramas, all the charmS| The fancy, the sublimity, and beauty Of poesy, and all the force and sense Of temp'rate prose, in sweet accordance blend. Thou, thou alone hast found the arduous art, To weave momentous, philosophic truths, Political and moral truths to weave, With wond'rous skill, in thy dramatic web; To harmonize instruction and delight, And make the drama well subserve the cause Of truth and virtue, spite of prejudice, Which only in the sacred desk beholds The torch of Truth, or Virtue's awful presence; Not thus beholds enlighten'd Charity, LOW's POEMS. Not thus do Reason and Experience judge: For, while the scenic exhibition gives Delight and admiration ; while we dwell, Enraptur'd dwell upon thy charming themes, Our senses, passions, reason, all our powers Are marshall'd on the side of Truth and Virtue. Proceed, great author! Error's baseless walls Continue still to slowly^ surely sap; In Beauty's garb let Reason still appear, And Truth's commanding voice in thee be heard, Nor hast thou caught the phrenzy of the age. The factious cant, th' enthusiastic zeal Of modern politicians; proof against Their specious systems is thy stronger mind. Averse alike to tyranny, which gives To suff'ring man his most afflictive ills, Destroying or eclipsing " half his worth;" And that licentious- liberty, which spurns At salutary rule and just restraint, And mars the blessings of the social state ; . Thou dost decry them both, and both avoid j Pursuing still that temp'rate, happy mean, 'J'hat rational and practicable coursej So LOW's POEMS. Which all the lib'ral and enlighten'd take, And which benevolence must still pursue. Thy num'rous labours are alike exempt From that impure and vicious taste, which once Upon Thalia's sons brought foul disgrace; And from that trick, and foppery, and froth, With which the modern Thespian school abounds, Pure is thy gold, oh poet ! No alloy Of hackney'd sentiment, or vapid wit, Its native brightness sullies, or impairs Its sterling value : brilliant are thy gems, And precious and intrinsic is their worth : They, with no counterfeit or borrow J d lustre, On mental vision glare a transient beam, And cheat the sense with meretricious beauty. With bold, original, and daring genius, With noble independence, and a taste Correft and polish'd, thou hast spurn'd the bounds i To which scholastic pedantry, to which Th' imperious voice of ancient prejudice Had long confm'd the drama; broke the spell, s (As Albion's SHAKESPEARE erst) the slavish spell, Py ages consecrated, san&ion'd still LOW's POEMS, By those who make antiquity their guide; Who view its dogmas with religious awe, And by its crude opinions square their own: Long its absurd and arbitrary rules v Have kept in vassalage the mental world, Repress'd the fire of genius, and controul'd, And warp'd, and fetter'd man's improving powers; Which Nature did ordain, with ev"ry age To grow more perfect, more sublime to rise, And unrestrain'd to wing their tow'ring flight. These artificial rules thy taste contemns, These false restraints it greatly sets at nought ; Successfully hast thou exploded these, Or hast improv'd no bounds thy genius knows, Except the limits Nature hath -prescrib'd, And cultivated Reason does approve. Thy vig'rous mind, or in the comic path, Or grave Melpomene's majestic walks, Is greatly adequate to ev'ry theme; Is skill'd alike to paint the splendid scene Where regal pomp presides, and courtly tongues Sublimely talk, and kingly footsteps grace, 82 LOW's POEMS. August and dignified, the Thespian boards; Or humbler, more endearing scenes to draw, Of sweet domestic bliss, of worth obscure, Or social, or ascetic; these thou lov'st To trace and copy with a master's hand: Well dost thou know to give to scenes like these, That, dignity which falsely nice observers, (Recreant to Nature's most engaging charms,) Which frigid, squeamish hypercrhics want, To save their feelings from disgust and spleen: Nor, such to please, dost thou negleft to give Those sofr, affecling touches, which can move Ev'n the cold heart of stoic apathy, And make the thoughtless libertine reflecT:. Oh! who so sweetly can delineate, So feelingly, yet simply can describe, Maternal anguish or parental joy? The lover's ecstacies, and hopes, and fears? Th' impassion'd plaint of conjugal distress? Of conjugal felicity the charms? Friendship disint'rested, and pure and warm? The fond familiar intercourse of love, And tenderness, and innocence, and peace? LOW's POEMS. 83 With interesting characters like these, And pictures thus benign, thou canst beguile The wretch of suff'ring, smooth the brow of care, Make thy attentive auditor keep pace With ev'ry scene thy fertile muse pourtrays, Sweetly transporting him to fairy land ! Poet of Nature! lovely are thy scenes, And lovely all thine images to me : Oh! still delight oh! captivate me still, And with thine intellectual beauties charm One who admires, and venerates, and loves Thy genius an enthusiast in thy favour: From him this off'ring, due to truth, accept} This poor, unequal tribute of applause, To thy desert unequal but sincere, And therefore not unworthy thy regard. ON MILTON's PARADISE LOST. URANIA! prompt my daring lays, While MILTON I attempt to praise; The bard divine, the learned sage, Whose genius glows in ev'ry page Of that vast proof of human powers, His epic strain : sublime it towers. His thoughts by inspiration rise, Ascending to empyreal skies : Nor miss their way, nor fail to scan GOD'S grand designs to fallen man; He sings how man, from bliss tho' cast, Shall rise to higher bliss at last; At last shall be to heav'n restor'd, By woman's seed, heav'n's sov'reign Lord. The Paradise of GOD, the hell In which rebellious spirits dwell, Permit his bold, poetic flight; Their wonders burst upon his sight. LOW's POEMS. Th' eternal " ancient of all days," Who universal Nature sways, A glimpse of heav'nly glory deigns To shed on his exalted strains. He bids the heav'n of heav'ns display Its splendours bright, of which one ray Can dart intolerable day. Lo ! on his everlasting throne, Jehovah's well-beloved Son; See him in majesty divine, Above celestial orders shine; Behold the King of kings descend; Adoring myriads to him bend, And heav'n with acclamations rend. In might omnipotent he goes, To meet his sire's presumptuous foes; His chariot-wheels of flaming fire, And awful thunder speak his ire; His wrath heav'n's pillar'd basis shakes, And Tophet's deep foundation quakes; He. comes in dreadful pomp array'd The rebel hosts recoil dismay'd; Aghast they wait th' impending doom, Hell's caverns yawn to give them roomj 86 LOW's POEMS. / And all the powers who dar'd rebel, His thunder plunges down to hell: From bliss supernal headlong hurl'd, They now possess th' infernal world. Personify 'd the fallen crew, To MILTON'S fancy rise to view; Death grins a smile with ghastly jaws., And Sin, with snakes, her bosom gnaws; Hell's monarch, 'midst immortal pangs, His vanquish'd fellow fiends harangues ; With haughty port, and lowring brow, He meditates revenge below. Through Chaos now he wings his flight, . And horrors of primeval night; Through elemental uproar sweeps, Where wild Misrule dominion keeps; With strides Colossal, towards day He fearless seeks his '"uncouth way." Thus MILTON'S mind, like boundless space, Could GOD'S whole universe embrace; From heav'n to Tartarus profound, Could compass vast creation round: ' Eternity, infinitude, LOW'S POEMS. 87 i With more than mortal eyes he view'd; Or saw as clear as mortal cou'd. Exalted Bard ! my feeble lays Attempt in vain to sing thy praise ; Thy work, oh! fav'rite of the nine, Shall with increasing lustre shine, Till hoary Time his race hath run, And Death's devouring work is done; Shall nourish while this globe remains, Unrivall'd still as now it reigns; Sweet Poet ! greatest of the three, Whose labours we with rapture see; For HOMER, VIRGIL, live alike in thee. ( 88 ) HYMN CHRISTMAS-DAY. JjY sin and sense enslav'd too long, At length, my soul, aspire To themes which once employ'd the song Of heav'n's angelic choir. " Glory to GOD !" in highest strains. The heav'nly heralds sung; " Glory to GOD, who ever reigns !" The whole creation rung: ** Good will to men, and peace on earth, " For this auspicious morn, " A Saviour of celestial birth, " Ev'n CHRIST the LORD is born!'* LOW's POEMS. 89 Th' eternal Word forsook the skies, With sinful men to dwell, That those to heav'n with him might rise, W T ho else must sink to hell. Glory to GOD'S unbounded grace! The holy JESUS lives, Whose death to our apostate race A life eternal gives, Mysterious wisdom, power supreme, And goodness all divine, Above our thoughts, in this vast scheme, With radiant glory shine : And shall not guilty, fallen men, For such stupendous love, To their divine Emanuel, then Their grateful rapture prove ? Ador'd Redeemer, oh ! remove This lethargy of sin, And let thy all-constraining love Our future heav'n begin. oo LOW's POEMS. Hail uncreated source of light ! Life of our spirits, hail ! O'er Death, and Satan's blackest night, Thy kingdom shall prevail ! HYMN TO LIBERTY. Sung in Church on the lath Day of May, 1790; bting the Anniversary of the Tammany Society or Columbian Order. DAUGHTER of heav'n, thou gift divine, Best portion of our bliss! Each day that greets thy sons be thine, But chiefly smile on this. Celestial maid ! shall Europe boast The saints her natives feign; And o'er thy best, thy fav'rite coast, No sacred guardian reign ? LOW's POEMS. 91 Not so, blest Freedom, while thy rays Illume our vast domain; Not while Columbia's Order blaze Effulgent in thy train. Thine angel form we vainly sought, While Death stood at thy side, And Danger, Terror too, were taught That angel form to hide : But now thy presence glads our sight, And now we feel thy fire; Oh! may the sacred flame burn bright, Till Life's last spark expire ! And late when he shall call thee back, Who fix'd thy seat below ; Thy sons shall mark the dazzling track, And go where thou shalt go. But, lo! our brethren* raise to thee A longing, asking eye; Ah! that the gen'rous, just and free, Should disregard their cry ! * In Algiers, 9* LOW's POEMS. Millions to thee at length look up, From Slav'ry's iron yoke; Nor look in vain, for soon their cup Of sorrow shall be broke. But shall we praise a gift so vast, And not the giver prize ? Great source of all our blessings past, Forbid the rash surmise ! Thy servant,* first of human kind, His country's cause maintain'd, When Perseverance look'd behind, And even Hope complain'd. When those dread scenes our thoughts inspire, We tremble and adore; And dotibt, if we should fear thine ire, Or love thy mercy more. Still be that sov'reign mercy ours, Great Spirit of the free ! And gratitude shall spend its powers Jn songs of praise to thee. * Washington. LOW's POEMS. 93 May Time still fan the sacred pyre Which thirteen sparks shall raise. Until the last terrestrial fire Shall rival Freedom's blaze ! LINES Ifriflett at tie request of tie Members of Holland Lodge, at a tlmi tvlcr. a visit was expeiled from the Grand Master of A DEE Glory's chosen son, Unrivall'd WASHINGTON, Our Lodge attend ! Our country's saviour view, A God-like Mason too; And greet, with honors due, Your patriot friend. Illustrious brother, hail ! Put what do words avail? The theme's too high ! Our heart-felt joy will best By silence be express'd; Lov'd chief, read ev'ry breast In ev'ry eye! % i ( 94 ) CONSTITUTION. - Fools admire, but men of sense approve, 51 OINCE Constitution is a word By men so often us'd, And all its meaning made absurd, By knaves and fools abus'd j Pray, courteous reader, mark. my scheme^ Imprimis I must shew, What Constitutions an't my theme, Then item let you know. > : Th not the Constitution nice, Which metaphysics teach; Of minds compos'd of good and vice,, And wond'rous powers of each. LOW'S POEMS. 95 'Tis not the body that we hold To anatomic view; Nor Constitution now call'd old t I mean the one that's new. . A plan to govern thirteen States Was late imperfeft found ; But politicians made debates To constitute it sound. These same debates, perus'd by most, Are hated or embrac'd; Or damn'd (oh shocking!) or the boast Of all your men of taste. i i The man whose looks bespeak him ivise t Protests they are not good ; Though not a sentence meets his eyes That well is understood. With shrug important, and a face Denoting thought profound, " He opes the snuff-box, then the case," While newsmongers surround. LOW'S POEMS. "Pray, Sirs, the Constitution egh! " D'ye think 'twill stand the test? " Our new-form'd government, I say " Methinks 'tis not the best. f " The house of pshaw 'tis not the thing, " Its power will be too great, " The President will be a King; . " Besides, 'tis intricate." "How, Sir, not good! beware, I pray, " To hold the worst of creeds, " Lest you be deem'd, as well you may, " A foe to fed'ral deeds. " The scheme you must again review, " Permit me to remark; " For, Sir, the Constitution's new, " And therefore, Sir, is dark." To little critics dark it is, Its faults or excellence Not seen by the sagacious phiz Of would-be men of sense. LOW's POEMS. 97 In simple verse, permit a bard His sentiment to tell; (And CATO must not think it hard) He likes the system well; And if some principle be there, That's opposite to mine, How wise the plan ! I still declare, What judgment in each line! What if my feeble thought can't soar Its highest good to find, Is not a whole Convention's more Than one imperfecl mind? Yes, patriots, by experience taughf, (Their country's guardian guides) Concert a plan, with wisdom fraught, And WASHINGTON presides! Since he has led the virtuous band, They sure have counsel'd best; Oh! prosper, heaven, our parent land, And make her people blest ! 98 ODE, Occasioned by the adoption of the present Constitution of the United States, and first published on the day when that event was celebrated in the City of New- York by a Procession, EMERGING from old Ocean's bed, When fair Columbia graceful rear'd her head To his* glad view; for whose intrepid soul High heav'n reserv'd this undiscover'd goal; The genius of the solitary waste, With ecstacy the God-like man embrac'd, Prophetic of her future state; And smil'd serene, and hail'd th' approaching day } When older nations, envious, should survey Her numerous offspring, good and great; But still sh'e sigh'd, and dropt a tear, And still the more than mortal seer Anticipated what she knew too well,f And what, this memorable day, the muse, With retrospective ken, reluclant views, And this blest epoch now forbids to tell. * Columbus. f The war with Great-Britain. LOW's POEMS. go Distress'd, she saw, but with prophetic eyes, Thro' scenes of horror, future bliss descrys j Sees greater good from partial evil rise. She knew how empires rise and fall, That all the changes on this earthly ball Revolve by heav'n's command, Nor can its will withstand. Submissive she that power ador'd, The sov 'reign, universal LORD, Almighty, wise and good! Whose eye, omniscient, saw 'twas right " We should attain a glorious height, Thro' seas of kindred blood. And lo ! the all-important period's nigh, And swells my mighty theme; An aera greater than the golden age, Cf which the poets dream; \ And adds a wond'rous, an illustrious page, To this terrestrial globe's vast history. Begin, oh muse! And far diffuse Th' inspiring news : ioo LOW's POEMS. To earth's remotest bound, Throughout the world let joy like ours be found, And Echo catch the animating sound, Now all our highest hopes are crown'd. Through Time's incessant round, Fame's trumpet shall resound This long-desir'd event, And tell what mighty blessings heav'n hath sent. Immortal Fame, Whose loud acclaim / Is deathless as the poet's song, To countless ages shall the theme prolong. Ten sov'reign States, in Friendship's league combin'dj Blest with a government, which does embrace The dearest int'rests of the human race, This festive day, to joy resign'd, This signal day we celebrate: i Let ev'ry patriot heart dilate Let ev'ry care be banish'd far, Nor aught these fed'ral honors mar. Behold th' admir'd procession move along'; Our sister States, the happy ten, it greets ; What animation in the crowded streets I ,- LOW's POEMS. ioi What grateful plaudits from each tongue ! In beautiful arrangement, lo! Majestically slow, Some thousands move, a fed'ral band, Advancing hand in hand. - Heart-cheering sight ! Not half so much applause Did Alexander's pompous pageants crown: Ne'er did he gain such merited renown: This spectacle august can boast a nobler cause! Hail, Liberty ! fair offspring of the skies, To whom these grateful offerings rise, We feel thine energy divine! These solemnities are thine ! Union rears his giant form, With life, and health, and vigour warm ! Lo! he frowns on Faftion fell The monster, howling, seeks his native hell 1 Joy to the union ! blest Columbia hail ! Distraction in thy councils now shall fail, And Wisdom and efficience soon prevail: Justice shall now exalt her well-poiz'd scale: jo* LOW's POEMS. Celestial Peace her silken wand extend, And white-rob'd F~irtue from the skies descend i Genius shall mount a glorious towering height, By genial Science foster'd and refin'd, And deathless wreaths our offspring's temples bindj While dwindled Europe sickens at the sight: Arts, still increasing, shall these shores adorn, And halcyon days bless millions yet unborn, Fair as the aspect of the vernal morn ! Herculean Industry, with dext'rous hand, Shall make earth's bosom teem at its command, And Health and Plenty glad heav'n's fav'rite land : Pomona's charge shall grow luxuriant here, And bounteous Ceres crown the ripen'd yearj Commerce shall raise its languid head The nation's dignity that with it fled, Triumphant shall its place resume, And navies start from the tall forest's gloom ! Joy to our far-fam'd chief, whose peerless worth Makes monarchs sicken at their royal birth: And joy to thee, the NEWTON of this age, Whose lore hath grac'd the scientific page FRANKLIN, the patriot, venerable sage' LOW'S POEMS. Hail, ev'ry. champion in your country's cause! Long shall that country ring with your applause, Exult with me, ye patriots, that no more Diie Discord's clamours vex this western shore j That jarring States to Union give the rein, And all approve that gently-pow'rful chain, Thefed'ral system, which more firm unites The thirteen States, and yet preserves our rights, Oh, may those rights be sacred to the end, And to our last posterity descend ! May that fair structure flourish and expand, And ceaseless blessings crown our native land ! ODE On the arrival of the late President of the United States In the City of New- York. 1'une " God save," CsV . Al AIL, bright, auspicious day ! Long shall America Thy praise resound: Joy to our native land! Let ev'ry heart expand, For WASHINGTON'S at hand, With glory crown'd! Columbia's children hail! Behold, before the gale, Your chieftain comes; The matchless hero's nigh ! Now raise your plaudits high, With trumpets rend the sky, A.nd martial drums. LOW'S POEMS. 105 Illustrious warrior hail ! Oft did thy sword prevail O'er hosts of foes; Come and fresh laurels claim, Still dearer make thy name, Long as immortal Fame Her trumpet blows ! Thrice welcome to this shore, Our leader now no more> But ruler thou ; Oh, truly good and great ! Long live to glad our State, Where countless honors wait To deck thy brow. Hush'd be the din of arms, Henceforth the olive's charms Shall war preclude; These shores a head shall own, Unsully'd by a throne, Our much lov'd WASHINGTON, The great, the good ! 106 A FRIEND, ON HIS MARRIAGE. JTl AIL, happy pair ! to whom no lukewarm friend Approving gratulations would accord; May ever new delights your path attend, And length of days your constancy reward. How many anxious days, dear ****, you've try'd To win the charming fair-one you ador'd; To call the lovely ******* your bride, Seem'd bliss too vast for fortune to afford ! 'Tis done your wish obtain'd, your joy complete, The laughing Loves, the Graces, and each Muse, Propitious join'd, at your espousals meet, And ev'n your poet celebrates the news. Your poet and your friend his ready zcai Now greets your nuptials, and your choice approve*; And bids his long-neglected muse reveal How much he shares the bliss of him he loves. LOWs POEMS. 107 Your faith I know ev'n from our early youth Our souls congenial sympathy confess'd, Secure in promises of ceaseless truth, And ever acting what our tongues profess'd. 'Tis stilt the same united now like me, Alike our comforts, and alike our woe; No diminution shall our friendship see, But as we grow in years our love shall grow. Great is the happiness you now enjoy, And many blessings crown the wedded state; Ah! .may no future ill your peace destroy, Or baulk the prospects which your heart elate. May all the joys which friendship can impart. (Delights to those of sense superior much) With mutual fondness fire each glowing heart; With speechless feelings either bosom touch ! But while I breathe Affection's purest strain, And hail you blest in Hymeneal joys; Accept the moral lay, for I would fain Direct you to that bliss which never cloys. io8 LOW's POEMS, That ardent fondness for your beauteous bride, The joy ecstatic, and th' impassion'd strain, Connubial raptures ! will, erelong, subside; But love, unquench'd by time, will yet remain. The converse sweet, the calm, contented mind, The sympathetic thought, the wish to please, The look complacent, these will stay behind, And evanescent joys give place to these. Far other scenes await beyond the tomb ; When all those transient pleasures shall be o'er, The sweets of sense, and Beauty's fleeting bloom, Will then seduce and fascinate no more. Then, oh! let moral good your mind employ j Let virtue, sentiment, your hearts allure; For these, when Time shall all things else destroy, These, in another state, will still endure. Be this your pleasure, this your highest aim ; That when that untry'd, awful change you prove, Your kindred souls may catch a seraph's flame, And burn for ever with a seraph's love ! AROSE. .TAIR, blushing, half-expanded Rose, What other flower can with thee vie? Whose vivid tints more charms disclose, Than Iris' bow, or Tyrian dye. Sweet-scented, fragrance-breathing Rose ! Not eastern gales such odours bear; Not all the tribes which Flora knows Can with thy rich perfume compare. Oh ! yes a flower as fair and sweet Hath often fix'd my raptur'd gaze; In MIR A all thy beauties meet; Yes, MIR A all thy charms displays: V \ Like thee she charms in Life's gay noon, And sheds around ambrosial breath; And like thee too, must wither soon, And yield, alas! to Time and Death: 2K x no LOW's POEMS. But not like thine, frail, short-liv'd flower, Is lovely MIRA'S final doom; Death never will thy bloom restore, But MIRA'S charms again will bloom: For Virtue's flame her bosom warms, ' Which heav'n, sweet Rose, to thee denies; And heav'n her conscious soul informs. That worth like MIRA'S never dies. INSTABILITY OF FRIENDSHIP, And what is friendship but a name; A charm that lulls to sleep ; A shade that follows wealth or fame, But leaves the wretch to weep f Goldsmith. 1 O smooth the thorny road of life, we fain A fellow mortal's friendly aid would try; We try but ah ! the issue proves 'tis vain To look for aid from beings born to die. Since Manhood's dawn I still have fondly strove For health and affluence, long of these devoid; Sigh'd for those transient joys which mortals love; By me, alas! too transiently enjoy'd. i Oft as assiduous earthly good I sought, Some blessing which as oft hath been deny'd, I still believ'd (oh, impotence of thought!) A friend might help me stem Misfortune's tide. iia LOW's POEMS. He might but, ah ! experience can attest, (Sad witness of a truth perceiv'd too late!) Friendship's a blessing when by man possess'd; But few possess it in this lower state. I thought my friend was uncorrupted truth; I thought but, oh! deceitful he was found; Skill'd how to fascinate ingenuous youth, And in what point the feeling heart to wound: For while the peace-depriving charm I press'd, Deep in my heart th' invenom'd inmate stole, And basely wounded (ah ! perfidious guest) A faithful, gen'rous, unsuspicious soul. And yet, when Time had well matur'd the mind, Tho' Reason's dictates more enlight'ned grew, Still Providence to me appear'd unkind, And still the phantom, friend, remain'd in view. With notions high of truth and honor fraught, If faithless friends protested, I believ'd; Enthusiast that I was ! I spurn'd the thought, That knaves seem true when honesty's deceiv'd. LOW's POEMS. 113 The dupe of art, by well-meant zeal inspir'd, Would fly to clear a fav'rite's blighted fame; Such confidence some damning proof requir'd, To ope' my eyes, and stifle Friendship's flame. Ye upright few, whom Virtue's influence sways, With hearts susceptible of truth and love, " Trust not in man," celestial Wisdom says, And sage Experience can its wisdom prove. Ev'n ye whose souls are tainted least with vice Know not what latent evils harbour there 3 A spark of envy, pride, or avarice, Can raise a flame which Friendship will not bear. How frail is man, the wisest and the best ! How very foolish if he thinks he's wise, Who sees Earth's cheating joys, by Fancy dress'd, In Beauty's garb, and Virtue's semblance rise. Mysterious GOD ! submissive to thy will, Oh, teach this cheerless, erring soul to bend; Let thy rich wisdom guide my footsteps still, And thine omnipotence from ill defend. LOW's POEMS. Great is the evil of man's heart, hut thou Art greater far that evil to subdue ; To Goodness infinite let mortals bow, And own how little good the best can do. A thousand snares our rectitude oppose, And oft we know not how those snares to ward ; Oh ! teach us to o'ercome these moral foes, Supremely wise! divinely gracious LORD! Whene'er I fix my eyes on things below, Whene'er for unsubstantial bliss I sigh, Since oft repeated disappointments shew The specious good is vice or vanity: May I confess thy providence is just, And know and try its salutary use ; Know that, improv'd aright, these evils must (As thou hast prcmis'd) final good produce: That if we in tly. friendship do confide, Nor men, nor fiends can make that union cease; That through Life's troubles thou wilt surely guide A way-worn pilgrim to eternal peace. ALPHONSO AND AGNES. The plot of this Poem Is taken from the story of the Bleedin in " Ambrosio, or the Monk," written by M. G. LEWIS IN Lindenberg castle, whose battlements rear Their Gothic remains to the sun, On ev'ry fifth May day of ev'ry fifth year, At the still hour of one did a spectre appear, Array'd in the garb of a nun: The dread apparition was meager and tall; JBlood drop'd on her robes from a wound; Her haggard eyes deep in their sockets did fall; Her presence the bravest of men could appal ; The women beheld her and swoon'd ! Conceal'd was her face with a nun's dismal veil, And, when the ghost drew it aside, Her visage cadaverous, ghastly and pale, To the spot seern'd the shudd'ring spectators to nail; The blood in their veins ceas'd to glide ! lib LOW's POEMS. The castle's fair inmate was AGNES whose eyes Had shed Love's delicious delight In ALPHONSO'S susceptible heart when with sighs Her breasts gently heav'd the soft fleece of the skies No more to his view appear'd white. The virgin for him felt a similar flame, Her tongue equal ardour confess'd; Whenever ALPHONSO to Lindenberg came, What transports deleftable thrill'd thro' her frame ! What speechless delight fir'd her breast ! Her aunt, old, repugnant, antique and morose, Her passion oft strove to restrain; A vow doom'd the maid (ere her birth) to the cross; And the blind devotee deprecated the loss Which heav'n in her niece might sustain; Her vigilance only their passion inflam'd, Her rigour but fed their desires; In vain the fierce beldam or threat'ned or blam'd; Coercion and convents have never yet tam'd Or quench'd Love's omnipotent fires. LOW's POEMS. 117 Ere the fifth day of May of the well-noted year, When all did the vision expect, ALPHONSO soft whisper'd in AGXES'S ear, " At the still hour of one, in the morning appear, " In ghostly habiliments deck'd; " For then all believe that the spectre, as erst, " Down stairs thro' the hall will proceed: " Be thou, AGNES, veil'd like the spirit and first " Glide thro' the apartments then, Fate, do thy worst) " My AGNES'S flight to impede!" The period approaches-^-fly swift, ye dull hours j ALPHONSO experts his love soon: The night breeze sighs sadly, and awes his rapt powers \ The owl screams and wails from the mouldering towers That shine with the beams of the moon* The porter wide opens the castle's huge gates ; , (The bleeding nun whilom stalk'd thence) ALPHONSO'S heart throbs mute and breathless he waits^ He sighs, and implores, and accuses the Fates, i < . Now hoping, now chill'd by suspense* L liS LOW'S POEMS. He numbers the minutes ! Time seems to stand still: Hark! One vibrates shrill in his ears Tumultuous emotions his bosom now fill, And, oh ! what ineffable joys through him thrill, When a torch at a distance appears! She comes, nor forgets to extinguish the light, /" Her aunt's dreaded notice to shun: He sees, by the moon-beams which gild the drear nighty "Tis she 'tis his AGNES who blesses his sight, Array'd like the ghost of the nunJ "Sweet AGNES, dear AGNES," he cries, "thon art mine, " The maid whom I love and adore; i *' Betrothed to thee, my belov'd, I am thirie,> " Lov'd AGNES, thou now art unchangeably minejr " Thou never shalt part from me more!" She flies to his arms, and he clasps to his heart The nymph who enamours his souls' In the carriage which waits, in an instant they dart; They vow endless love> and their transports impart, While the chariot wheels rapidly roll. LOW'S POEMS. 119 Now swift fly the horses swift spin the wheels round; The castle's high turrets recede; Scarce seem the fleet coursers to tread on the ground, They plunge deep in valleys, o'er mountains they bound, They rival the hurricane's speed: ALPHONSO endeavours to govern their fire, But calls to the drivers in vain; Such fury the mettlesome steeds does inspire, They more than Herculean exertion require, Their perilous speed to restrain ; i O'er ditches they leap, over hedges they fly, Now down the fell precipice dash; Wheels rattle, steeds snort, lightning glares thro' the sky 1 Winds bellow, and thunder rolls awful on high! And bursts with a terrible crash ! . The shock fills ALPHONSO with dreadful alarms; The .virgin clings to him abash'd; He fears for her life while he hangs o'er her charms; She shrieks, wild with terror, she faints in his arms! The chariot in pieces is dash'd! 120 v LOW's POEMS. The drivers have vanish'd the horses lie dead ALPHONSO, unconscious, lies there; All shatter'd the chariot's loose fragments are spread j The nun's bleeding form from ALPHONSO hath fled; The vision dissolves into air! ALPHONSO revives he remembers his fair; Love kindles up Life's dying fires; Kind peasants have cherish'd and lodg'd him with care ; He gazes around him, in frantic despair, For AGNES, his love, he inquires. They hear with concern, their best succour is us'd, They mourn his condition so sad; His limbs are-disjointed, and mangled, and bruis'd, His senses by terror and pain are confus'd; They deem the lorn sufferer mad. No AGNES was seen when ALPHONSO was found: He raves, hapless youth ! at the news; The walls of the mansion with " AGNES" resoundj For AGNES he sends fifty messengers round; His wounds crimson currents effuse: LOV/'s POEMS. -."I Exhausted with anguish of body and mind, In stupor lethargic he sinks; Dreams harrow his soul; on the wings of the wind He ransacks the world his lov'd AGNES to find: Of nothing but AGNES he thinks. Now Fancy hath plac'd the dear maid by his side.; But diemons his bride from him tear: They plunge, with their prey, in a gulph deep and wide! ALPHONSO exclaims, "nought our loves shall divide!" And leaps down the gulph in despair. He starts, as the dreadful abyss he surveys; He 'wakes in a horrible fright; Oh GOD ! what a figure encounters his gaze; He stares at the bleeding nun's ghost with amaze, Envelop'd in drapery white! / She stalks, and sits down on the bed where he lies; All bloodless and pale are her cheeks; Her cold, livid lips to his face she applys; Upon him she fixes her death-looking eyes; In accents sepulchral she speaks ; s-l 122 LOW's POEMS. " ALPHONSO, ALPHONSO, my love, thou art mine, " The youth whom I love and adore; " Betrothed to thee, my belov'd, I am thine, " ALPHONSO, ALPHONSO, my love, thou art mine; " I never will part from thee more!" With cold clammy hands, that of rottenness smell, ALPHONSO'S worn body she clasps; She utters, in triumph, a horrible yell! Big drops on his forehead his agony tell; He groans his blood curdles he gasps! His voice hath departed his bristling hairs rise Chill Horror suspends ev'ry brefcth! A motionless, petrify'd statue he lies, His heart sinks and freezes within him he dies In the chilling embraces of Death ! ( 1*3 ) PEACE. This Poem was first published shortly after the ratification of Peace between America and Great-Britain, DEEP in a grove, that mock'd the northern blast, And o'er the scene a solemn umbrage cast, The guardian Genius of Columbia stood; Serene she smil'd upon her native wood, And tun'd to harmony her grateful lay ; The conscious forest own'd her cheering ray; She told how Peace her olive-branch display'd, And thus, melodious, sung the raptur'd maid: " Hail, favour'd land! where genial Peace now deigns " To shed her joys o'er groves, and hills, and plains; " Delightful scenes, by smiling Plenty grac'd, " A paradise emerging from a waste! " What floods of transport, what delight intense, " That now Columbia's free, pervade each sense ! 124 LOW's POEMS. " Long have her sons the contest well maintained " For native Freedom: lo! the prize is gain'd: " The painful conflict o'er, they reap, at last, " The sweet reward of all their labours past. / " Sing, tuneful tenants of the woodland shade, " For, lo! the peaceful standard is display 'd; " Ye lowing herds exalt your praises high, " And let your hoarse thanksgivings reach the sky; " Ye sportive flocks bleat loud, and let the sound " Thro' hills and vales reverberate around; " Let hills and vales, inanimate, rejoice; " All nature raise a gratulating voice ! " Wave high your heads ye trees, your joy attest; " And bloom ye flow'rs, in various colours drest, " Expand your beauties to th' admiring eye, *' A lovely scene' ye who in waters lie, .*' And gambol glad beneath the noontide ray, " In silent joy to Peace your homage pay; " Let Ocean's waves exult; and ev'ry spring " Murmur soft praises to Creation's King; " To Heaven's King let man now raise his voice, " Let him, in grateful strains, supreme rejoice; LOW'S POEMS. f 125 " Thou zephyrus, on willing wings, diffuse " Throughout the world the heart-reviving news, u That war, and rapine, and oppression cease, " That now our lot is Liberty and Peace !" Thus spake the Genius of a people blest; Creation list'ned, and -was hush'd to rest; " Attention held it mute," while thus she sung, For eloquence divine inspir'd her tongue; Complacent she beheld her guardian care, And beam'd celestial radiance thro' the air. What gallant leaders exercis'd command ? What vet'rans led Columbia's martial band? Those long-try 'd patriots, who so bravely fought, And who our present independence wrought, Declare, oh Muse ! their names, their deeds review, And gladly celebrate the virtuous few. The foremost hero on the lists of Fame Is WASHINGTON, a memorable name: Oh, truly great and good ! oh, truly brave ! Who didst thy country from oppression save : 126 LOW's POEMS. Illustrious chief! that country's joy and pride, The admiration of the world beside ; May many years be still upon thee shed, And Time roll prosp'rous o'er thy honor'd head : And, now the work of devastation's done, Now, by thy arm, at length, the battle's won, To tranquil, rural scenes again retir'd, Mayst thou enjoy the bliss so long desir'd ; There calmly may thy minutes glide, nor cease Till Heav'n shall call thee to eternal peace. What other heroes claim the Muse's song, Besides the humble, undistinguished throng? The palm of victory, oh, GATES! is thine, Thou fam'd subduer of the proud BURGOYNE: GREENE, too, hath merited unfading bays; Accept, oh chief! no flatt'ring Muse's praise. The meed of gratitude is thine, oh, HOWE! And laurels, SULLIVAN, shall grace thy brow. Intrepid SINCLAIR, well has earn'd the same; And future Bards shall sing of WOOSTER'S fame. To PUTNAM'S valour they the song shall raise, And strains heroic sound the vet'ran's praise. LOW's POEMS, 127 To such what vast acknowledgments are due, Who did their country's good so long pursue! To such what tokens of sincerest love! Ah ! never may Columbians thankless prove^ But prize the patriots who our cause espous'd, And bless the impulse which their spirits rous'd ! Nor can the grateful Muse forget to sing The Godlike virtues of the Gallic king; He saw our foes advancing, from afar, Against a country uninur'd to war: He saw us curs'd by transatlantic laws, And felt a gen'rous ardour in our cause. His squadrons cleave the undulating wave They come; an injur'd, suff'ring race to save; Nor come in vain: our vengeful foes advance, To strike pale terror in the hosts of France; . But they, proud mortals, of their valour vain,' With British blood must soon the ocean stain* In power hereditary they rely, Nor think that Britons, like their foes, may die j But their warm sluices too must swell the floodj And blend promiscuously with Gallic blood. 128 LOW's POEMS. Fierce war they wage on Ocean's wat'ry bed, With vital streams th' ensanguin'd sea turns redi Each has his country's glory near at heart To purchase this he dares with life to part; Death stalks insatiate, thund'ring cannon roar, And loud re-bellow from the distant shore : Each lab'ring ship the dire concussion feels, With death-fraught balls her hull convulsive reels: Beneath the mighty shock old Ocean shakes, _And Neptune wonders what such uproar makes. Nor less the combat rages on the plain, Nor less the number of ill-fated slain; Here mad Bellona thro' the armies flies, The flames of Discord flashing from her eyes; And Mars, infuriate, prompts the dreadful fight; His lance, high brandish'd, sheds refulgent light; Now here, now there, he makes the battle bleed, Grief, Joy, Fear, Hope alternately succeed) Ruin, and Pain, and Carnage reign around, And screams, and shouts, and dying groans resound. ^ Awake Melpomene! the mournful lay, And to th 3 illustrious dead thy tribute pay, LOW'S POEMS. 129 Fair Freedom's martyrs, who, in evil hour, So Heav'n decreed, were crush'd by foreign power, Ye patriots who can patriot worth revere, For brave MONTGOMERY shed the manly tear; To you his mem'ry will be ever dear. -"Twas thine, oh chief! by all the brave admir'd, With dauntless courage, ardent zeal inspir'd, Ere Victory and Peace from Heav'n were sent, (Ye friends of human kind his fate lament j .) To bleed, in Liberty's high cause to die, A viclim to remorseless tyranny: When Heav'n-enlight'ned Bards, in future days, Shall sweetly sing our fallen heroes' praise, Thy name, great chief! shall have a signal place, And long be honor'd by Columbia's race; Upon thy tomb the patriot's tear be shed, And trophied monuments adorn thy head. Deluded isle ! couldst thou have read the page Of future times, we ne'er had known thy rage; Thy children to enslave thou ne'er hadst strove, But rul'd Columbia with parental love. But why Britannia's blasted hopes deplore, Her greatness fall'n, her mighty now no more? ISO LOW'S POEMS. For peace we sued, in days of deep distress, But sued in vain our wrongs had no redress: Let Britain, then, her own mad acts repent, Her dwindled power, and fame eclips'd lament; 'Tis ours to boast that we have gain'd the strife, Have greatly earn'd peace, liberty and life. Land of delight, fair Freedom's fav'rite seat, With countless blessings, matchless charms replete Dear, native country ! of thy fame I sing ; Thy rising fame throughout the world shall ring. Now Peace, at length, is to our wishes giv'n, . Sweet, lovely, smiling Peace, best gift of Heav'n: The welcome olive-branch she wide extends, Heart-cheering emblem', to the farthest ends Of blest Columbia sheds her genial ray, And makes a continent confess her sway: With placid aspect, lo ! she smiles serene, And views benign the variegated scene: A clime which boasts the growth of ev'ry soil, A people virtuous, brave, inur'd to toil; Of all the various arts and means possest, To be without a foreign ally blest; LOW's POEMS. N 131 Not niggards of the happiness they feel To suff'ring strangers they a portion deal; And here the exil'd patriot gladly finds A sweet relief in sympathetic minds. Here Justice elevates her sacred head, The good man's refuge, and the culprit's dread; With nice precision deals th' avenging rod,. And imitates the attribute of God ; In scale impartial human actions weighs What Merit claims she bountifully pays, And gives to Vice, and all its dang'rous crew, Oppression, Fraud, and Cruelty, their due. Here busy Industry instructs the hand To ply the arts, to cultivate the land, To guide the ploughshare thro' a fertile soil, And smooth its face with unabated toil; To make abundance from its bosom flow, And aid its rising treasures as they grow; Mark Nature's rip'ning process with delight, And make rich harvests ev'ry care requite. J3* LOW's POEMS. Hence trade its complicated streams derives This is our strength, by this a nation thrives. Whate'er of ease or elegance man knows In polish'd life, from agriculture flows; Whate'er from earth's maternal bosom springs, Health, comfort, opulence, and pleasure brings: The shipwright models hence, of curious frame, The stately, complex vessel, dear to fame; The merchant hence derives increasing gam; He sends his country's product o'er the main; His ships, rich freighted, soon returning, pour The wealth of realms remote, a costly store; Thus plenty here in such profusion flows, That scarce a mortal, want or suff' ring knows; Thus lavish Nature, with indulgent hand, Show'rs all her blessings on this favour'd land. Nor are her gifts to sensual good confin'd, Her care beneficent extends to mind : And here, celestial Muse! my verse inspire, Attune to bolder strains my youthful lyre; Another theme I now attempt to sing, And try to stretch a more advent'rous wing; LOW's POEMS. i Our intellectual progress claims my lay, To sing the growth of Science I assay; Whose fruits, delectable to mental taste, Now bless these regions, late a savage waste; For, lo! where thorns and thistles lately grew, A thousand seminaries rise to view; And as the number grows, transporting truth! In literary fame advance our youth; On them fair Science hath already shone, Already they its blissful influence own: In thee, the Muse, oh, FRANKLIN ! fain would tell What useful lore and sage experience dwell; In thy philosophy such lights appear, As make a wond'ring world thy name revere; Thy genius hath repell'd the lightning's force, And turn'd its vengeful blaze a safer course: Nor thee alone hath Science taught to find, Whate'er enlightens and expands the mind: It gives the self-taught RITTENHOUSE renown, And joys our learned JEFFERSON to crown. In glory and renown these regions rise, , But, ah! one precious gift high Heav'n denys; JJ4 LOW's POEMS, To make thy fame, America, complete, The Muse of Poesy thy sons should greet; In European climes the Goddess roves, But shuns, alas! our academic groves; For scarce hath Sol perform'd his annual round, Not long the warrior rest from toil hath found, Since Death and Horror hover'd o'er our coasts, And War's dread weapons thin'd Columbia's hosts 5 Whose sad survivors cease not to complain, The dismal news of hapless kindred slain, Still recent on their woe-worn hearts remain: At such a time the song-inspiring Muse Far other distant scenes delights to choose j Remote from hence, in peace and calm repose, Her sons she nurtur'd there her temple rose ; Nor sped her flight where Liberty was chain'd, Where Grief, and Death, and Desolation reign'd; But now those dire calamities are o'er, Oh, may she visit this delightful shore ! With tuneful numbers here her sons inspire, Plant in their breasts the 'true poetic fire, The fire divine, which lifts th' aspiring thought, And makes the soul with joy celestial fraught I LOW'S POEMS. 135 Then shall they chant the memorable tale, How Freedom fought, and did at last prevail; Then shall their epic strains of battles sing, And all the horrors which from battles spring: The deeds atchiev'd by those heroic bands Who sav'd their country from Oppression's hands, In future times with rapture shall be heard, The fav'rite subject of the Heav'n-taught Bard! . The time will come, soon may that time arrive, When Roman greatness shall in us revive; When HOMER'S genius here sublime shall soar, And a new VIRGIL grace this western shore: Here Science shall exalt its laurel'd fane, And over ev'ry State extend its reign; Here flourish, unimpair'd by chance or time, Here raise its glory to a height sublime: A dome majestic shall to Fame be rear'd, By all aspir'd to, and by all rever'd; Upon the lofty summit she shall stand, A spectacle august ! her better hand Th' immortal prize shall offer to mankind, For classic skill and attic taste design'd; 136 LOW's POEMS. The other hand shall lift a trumpet high, Whose son'rous notes shall seem to rend the sky : Her vot'ries, filPd with emulation's fire, To her rewards shall eagerly aspire; And he who merits the distinguish'd prize Shall gain the laurel wreath which never dies! Here busy Commerce shall successful reign; Our navy, like a bulwark on the main, Appal Ambition, which again may strive Of native rights our country to deprive. Jn Union's bond these States shall pow'rful grow, And frown defiance on each foreign foe. While we such enviable bliss possess, What mortal pow'r caa ever make it less? Oh ! long preserve, kind Heav'n, our prosp'rous state, , \ And make us good, as well as wise and great! ODE TO HEAL TH. Composed in September, 1799. L ARENT of blessings, life-sustaining Health, Of Hope, and Love, and Joy benignant queen 5 Whose touch is rapture, whose possession wealth, Which makes Golconda's sparkling treasures mean: Divine Hygeia ! thee my verse would praise, Thee, Goddess ! whose exhilarating smile Suffus'd thy suppliant's ruddy cheek erewhile^ And promis'd, to thy vot'ry juvenile, Its richest influence thro' a length of days; But, transient was thy stay, oh, placid power ! And thou hast left me many a cheerless hour: Ah ! long and dreary has the period been, Since thy cherubic face I've seen; 138 ^ LOW'S TOEMS. Yet, well I know, celestial fair, Thy light-toed step, thy graceful air; Thy dimpling smile, thy rosy hue, Thine eyes of heav'nly azure blue; Blithe Youth and Love, perennial pair, And Hope and Joy play lambent there, And Beauty wantons in thine auburn hair. Yes, well I know thee, power benign, For once thy life-endearing charms were mine; Thy faultless shape, oh, lovely maid ! Thy features, where a thousand beauties play'd, Could once give ecstacy intense, And beam mild radiance on the ravish'd sense; But ne'er, since thy disastrous flight, Hath Joy my heart, or Beauty bless'd my sight; Now ever busy Care, with wrinkled brow, And lean Solicitude, my peace annoy; And Discontent is daily clouding now The dying embers of departed joy. I loathe the objects once with pleasure seen, Alas! I see them through a sickly mean; And 'wake in pain, from unrefreshing sleep, To sad remembrance, or abstraction deep. LOW's POEMS. 39 With nerves to trifles " tremblingly alive," In vain for wonted cheerfulness I strive; In vain I raise these orbs, of jaundic'd hue, The shadow of thy much-lov'd form to viewj In vain I bend an ever anxious ear, The echo of thy well known step to hear: A sickly glimpse of thee I now can scarce descry, And Mem'ry's magic glass privation must supply. Great is the power of Mem'ry's magic spell; Thine aspeft, Goddess, I remember well : Oft didst thou deign my youth to woo, And in my path fresh flowers to strew ; Their balmy sweets my senses did inhale: To thee I rais'd the grateful song, While, light of heart, I trip'd along, And melody and fragrance floated on the gale: Ere Plicebus ting'd the distant hills with light, With agile step I brush'd the dew away; Ere flowers, irriguous, glitter'd to the sight, I hail'd the dawning glories of the day: , Then sought my cottage, to partake the meal Which thy heart-cheering presence render'd sweetj Thy presence made me exquisitely feel. r 4 o LOW'S POEMS. How tasteful are the coarsest viands we eaf, If thou vouchsafe to bless the homely board; Not all the spicy produft of the east Can furnish such a grateful feast, Or such true luxury afford; Not Hybla's honey can delight the taste ; Nor neftar-yielding peach, with blushes grac'd; Nor clust'ring grapes, luxuriant from the vine; Nor more nutritious cream, delicious fare! Can please, if thou art not an inmate there: Their various flavours, precious Health! are thine; Yes, where thou art a genial guest, Thou giv'st the plain repast a richer zest, Infusing strength and joy in ev'ry rustic breast. Great is the power of Mem'ry's magic spell; I love of long departed joys to tell: When thy strong arm, oh Health ! the stripling brac'd, And ev'ry limb with pliant action grac'd, Oft have I climb'd the mountain's giddy height, And, eagle-ey'd, beheld thy visage bright; . Thine energies before me went, And made me mock the perilous ascent: wift as the rein-deer, was my flight, LOW'S POEMS. Sublimely bending o'er the craggy brink, Thy power forbad th' advent'rous youth to shrink, Prompting to deeds of valour and of might: Upborne by thee, he gain'd yon lofty brow ; Thro' Mem'ry's prism I there behold thee now; I know thy steady, firm, majestic gait; I see the mountain nymphs around thee waits I see thy lib'ral hand among them drop Its choicest gifts, and now I hear them hail Thee patron of the forest and the vale ; But chief, thee, Goddess of the mountain top! Oh! bear my tott'ring steps, Hygeia, there; To thy lov'd haunts, dear Goddess, bear This languid frame, and let that frame, once more,' Thy salutary influence share, And let my heart thy healing power adore: Oh ! bear me from this " vale, of tears," That now a lazar-house appears ; Where mortals, with their air, their food, Imbibe the plague which taints their blood, And where grim Death his awful standard rears. For, lo! just risen from his fetid den, Stalks Pestilence, invet'rate foe of men 1 LOW's POEMS, In his fell den sepulchral horrors scowl, Cadaverous and ghastly to the view ; Its walls drip exhalations dank and foul, And baneful hemlock's deepest shades imbue Its entrance drear, with noxious weeds o'ergrovvn, Thro' which no ray of healthful light e'er shone; But deadly vapours from its depths aspire: Oh shield me, Goddess, from those vapours dire ! Dfead scourge of human kind ! with giant force I see him tread down thousands in his course: Wan is his visage, squalid his attire, With labour vast his putrid lungs respire; His sinewy arms Destruction's besom wield; Protect me, Goddess, with thy shield ! For now he whirls contagious blasts abroad; Tremendous blasts! dread instruments of God! His sable wings, o'er guilty nations spread', Make darkness black, and baleful influence shed; His breath pestiferous infefts the air; His sanguine eyes like midnight torches glare; Morbific dews his livid lips distill, And ev'ry pore with subtle poison fill; t Thro' ev'ry nerve of man the deadly juices thrill: LOW'S POEMS. 143 Around him hang the murky fogs of night, And shudd'ring nature deprecates his blight: Shield me, Goddess, from his sight! Oh ! bear me far beyond the monster's view j I see, I see th' envenom'd, haggard crew Of evils that his fatal steps pursue! Fever first, whose arid heat Makes the pulse convulsive beat ; Then Terror, mantled in Cimmerian black, Aghast advances, dreading to look l