Elegiac sonnets. Volume 2 of 2

Elegiac sonnets. Volume 2 of 2
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ODE
TO DEATH.

[Note:] ODE TO DEATH.
From the following sentence in Lord Bacon's Essays.
"Death is no such formidable enemy, since a man
"has so many champions about him that can win the
"combat of him — Revenge triumphs of Death;
"Love flights it; Honour courts it; Dread of Disgrace
chooses it; Grief flies to it; Fear anticipates
it."

FRIEND of the wretched! wherefore should the eye
         Of blank Despair, whence tears have ceased to flow,
Be turn'd from thee? — Ah! wherefore fears to die
         He, who compell'd each poignant grief to know,
         Drains to its lowest dregs the cup of woe?
Would Cowardice post pone thy calm embrace,
         To linger out long years in torturing pain?
Or not prefer thee to the ills that chase
         Him, who too much impoverish'd to obtain
         From BRITISH THEMIS right, implores her aid in vain!

Sharp goading Indigence who would not fly,
         That urges toil the exhausted strength above?
Or shun the once fond friend's averted eye?
         Or who to thy asylum not remove,
         To lose the wasting anguish of ungrateful love?
Can then the wounded wretch who must deplore
         What most she lov'd, to thy cold arms consign'd,
Who hears the voice that sooth'd her soul no more,
         Fear thee, O Death! — Or hug the chains that bind
         To joyless, cheerless life, her sick, reluctant mind?

Oh! Misery's Cure; who e'er in pale dismay
         Has watch'd the angel form they could not save,
And seen their dearest blessing torn away,
         May well the terrors of thy triumph brave,
         Nor pause in fearful dread before the opening grave!
FINIS.

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