34 MEMOIROF 



the last polish upon his labours, he would have 

 ranked as one of the great masters of our language, 

 both in regard to the curious felicity and the 

 strength and clearness of his diction. The follow- 

 ing specimens of his poetical compositions are se- 

 lected less for their intrinsic excellence, than for the 

 picture which they furnish of his private meditations. 



A MIDNIGHT MEDITATION. 



<'Tis midnight's solemn hour! now wide unfurled 

 Darkness expands her mantle o'er the world; 

 The fire-fly's lamp has ceased its fitful gleam; 

 The cricket's chirp is hushed; the boding scream 

 Of the gray owl is stilled ; the lofty trees 

 Scarce wave their summits to the failing breeze ; 

 All nature is at rest, or seems to sleep ; 

 'Tis thine alone, man! to watch and weep! 

 Thine 'tis to feel thy system's sad decay, 

 As flares the taper of thy life away 

 Beneath the influence of fell disease: 

 Thine 'tis to know the want of mental ease 

 Springing from memory of time misspent, 

 Of slighted blessings, deepest discontent 

 And riotous rebellion 'gainst the laws 

 Of health, truth, heaven, to win the world's applause ! 



Such was thy course, Eugenio ; such thy hardened 



heart, 



Till mercy spoke, and death unsheathed the dart, 

 Twanged his unerring bow. and drove the steel 

 Too deep to be withdrawn, too wide the wound to heal, 

 Yet left of life a feebly glimmering ray, 

 Slowly to sink and gently ebb away. 



