Stanzas To ----

Well, some may hate, and some may scorn,     And some may quite forget thy name;     But my sad heart must ever mourn     Thy ruined hopes, thy blighted fame!     'Twas thus I thought, an hour ago,     Even weeping o'er that wretch's woe;     One word turned back my gushing tears,     And lit my altered eye with sneers.     Then "Bless the friendly dust," I said,     "That hides thy unlamented head!     Vain as thou wert, and weak as vain,     The slave of Falsehood, Pride, and Pain     My heart has nought akin to thine;     Thy soul is powerless over mine."     But these were thoughts that vanished too;     Unwise, unholy, and untrue:     Do I despise the timid deer,     Because his limbs are fleet with fear?     Or, would I mock the wolf's death-howl,     Because his form is gaunt and foul?     Or, hear with joy the leveret's cry,     Because it cannot bravely die?     No!    Then above his memory     Let Pity's heart as tender be;     Say, "Earth, lie lightly on that breast,     And, kind Heaven, grant that spirit rest!"