Classic Poem

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD CORNWALLIS .

While past its noon the lamp of life declines,
And age my vital flame invades,
Faint and more faint as it descends it shines,
And hastes, alas! to set in shades.

Then some kind pow'r shall guide my ghost to glades
Where, seated by Elysian springs,
Fam'd Addison attunes to patriot shades
His lyre, and Albion's glory sings.

There round majestic shades and heroes' forms
Will throng, to learn what pilot guides,
Watchful, Britannia's helm thro' factious storms,
And curbs the murm'ring rebel tides.

I tell how Townshend treads the glorious path
That leads the great to deathless fame,
And dwell at large on spotless English faith,
While Walpole is the fav'rite theme.

How, nobly rising in their country's cause,
The stedfast arbiters of right
Exalt the just and good to guard her laws,
And call forth merit into light.

A loud applause around the echoing coast
Of all the pleas'd Elysium flies. —
" But, friend, what place had you, " replies some ghost,
" When merit was the way to rise?

A loud applause around the echoing coast
Of all the pleas'd Elysium flies. —
" But, friend, what place had you, " replies some ghost,
" When merit was the way to rise?