04 HENRY KTRKE WHITE S POEMS. 



AVhatever my faults I may venture to say, 

 Hypocrisy never will come in your way. 

 I am upright, I hope ; I am downright, I'm clear ! 

 And I think ray worst foe must allow I'm sincere ; 

 And if ever sincerity glow'd in my breast, 

 'Tis now when I swear ** 



ELEGY. 



Occasioned by the Death of Mr GUI, tvho was droivned in the rivtf 

 Trent, while bathing, 9th August 1802. 



I. 



He sunk — th' impetuous river roU'd along, 

 The sullen wave betray'd his dying breath ;* 



And rising sad the rustling sedge among, 



The gale of evening touch'd the cords of death. 



Nymph of the Trent ! why didst not thou appear 

 To snatch the victim from thy felon wave ? 



Alas ! too late thou cam'st to embalm his bier, 

 And deck with water-flags his early grave. 



III. 



Triumphant, riding o'er its tumid prey 



Rolls the red stream in sanguinary pride ; 



While anxious crowds, in vain, expectant stay, 

 And ask the swoln corse from the murdering tide. 



The stealing tear-drop stagnates in the eye. 



The sudden sigh by friendship's bosom proved, 



I mark them rise — I mark the gen'ral sigh : 

 Unhappy youth ! and wert thou so beloved ? 



* This line may appear somewhat obscnro. It alludes to the last 

 babbling of the water, after a person has sunk, caused bjr the final 

 expiration of the air from the lungs; inhalation, by intToaucing the 

 water, produces !rntf'>c::ti'>n. 



