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Show u TO A SKELETON Dehold this ruin. 'Twns h. Bkull Once ot ethereal spirit full. This narrow cell was Life's retreat; This spaco was Thought's mysterious scat. What beauteous visions filled this spot! What dreams of pleasure long forgot! Nor hope, nor Joy, nor love, nor fear Has loft ono traco ot record hero. Beneath this mouldering catiopy Onco shono tho bright and busy eye; Hut start not at tho dismal void If social lovo that eye employed, It with no lawless lire It gleamed, But through tho dews ot kindness beamed, Thnt eyo shall bo forever bright When stars and sun nro sunk In night. Within this hollow cavern hung Tho ready, swift, and tuneful tongue; If Falsehood's honey It disdained, And when It cguld not prnlso was chained; If bold In Vlrtuo't. cause It spoke, , Yet gentlo concord never broke This silent tonguo shall plead for thoo When TImo unveils Eternity. Say, did these lingers delvo tho mine, Or with the envied rubles Bhlno? To how tho rock, or wear tho gem, Cnn llttlo now avail to them; Hut If the pago of Truth they sought; Oi comfort to tho mourner brought, Theso hands n richer need shall claim Than nil that wait on Wealth and Fame. Avails it whether bare or shod Theso feet tho paths of duty trod? If from tho bowers of past they lied, To seek Affliction's humblo shed; If Grandour's guilty bride they spurned, spurn-ed, And homo to Virtue's cot returned Thesp fret with angel wings shall vie. And tread tho palace of tho hky. Anonymous. |