Some thought it mounted to the lunar sphere, Since all things lost on earth are treasur'd there. There broken vows, and death-bed alms are found, But trust the muse-s 120 Tho' mark'd by none but quick, poetic eyes: (So Rome's great founder to the heav'ns withdrew, To Proculus alone confess'd in view) 126 A sudden star, it shot through liquid air, And drew behind a radiant trail of hair. The heav'ns bespangling with dishevel❜d light. 130 The Sylphs behold it kindling as it flies, And pleas'd pursue its progress through the skies. This the beau monde shall from the Mall survey, And hail with music its propitious ray; This the blest lover shall for Venus take, 135 And send up vows from Rosamonda's lake; This VER. 114. Since all things lost] Vide Ariosto, Canto xxxiv. Ovid. VER. 131. The Sylphs behold] These two lines added, for the same reason, to keep in view the machinery of the poem. This Partridge soon shall view in cloudless skies, 140 Then cease, bright Nymph! to mourn thy ravish'd hair, Which adds new glory to the shining sphere! ; When, after millions slain, yourself shall die 145 150 ELEGY TO THE MEMORY OF AN UNFORTUNATE LADY.* WHAT beck'ning ghost, along the moon-light shade Invites my steps, and points to yonder glade? Is it, in heav'n, a crime to love too well? To bear too tender, or too firm a heart, 5 10 Thence * See the Duke of Buckingham's Verses to a Lady designing to retire into a Monastery, compared with Mr. Pope's Letters to several Ladies, p. 206. quarto Edition. She seems to be the same person whose unfortunate death is the subject of this poem. Her name is said to have been Wainsbury, and she was ill-shaped and deformed. She hanged herself. Thence to their images on earth it flows, 15 20 25 And sep❜rate from their kindred dreg's below; Nor left one virtue to redeem her race. 30 35 But thou, false guardian of a charge too good, Thou, mean deserter of thy brother's blood! See on these ruby lips the trembling breath, These cheeks now fading at the blast of death; Cold is that breast which warm'd the world before, And those love-darting eyes must roll no more. Thus, if eternal justice rules the ball, Thus shall your wives, and thus your children fall: On all the line a sudden vengeance waits, And frequent herses shall besiege your gates; There passengers shall stand, and pointing say, (While the long fun❜rals blacken all the way) Lo! these were they, whose souls the Furies steel'd, And curs'd with hearts unknowing how to yield. 40 Thus |