To the Memory of

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE LORD TALBOT,

LATE CHANCELLOR OF GREAT BRITAIN;

ADDRESSED TO HIS SON.

WHILE, with the public, you, my Lord, lament
A friend and father lost; permit the Muse,—
The Muse assign'd of old a double theme:
To praise dead worth and humble living pride,
Whose generous task begins where interest ends;—
Permit her on a Talbot's tomb to lay

This cordial verse sincere, by Truth inspired,
Which means not to bestow, but borrow, fame.
Yes, she may sing his matchless virtues now-
Unhappy that she may!-But where begin?
How from the diamond single out each ray,
Where all, though trembling with ten thousand hues,
Effuse one dazzling undivided light?

Let the low-minded of these narrow days

No more presume to deem the lofty tale
Of ancient times, in pity to their own,
Romance. In Talbot, we united saw

The piercing eye, the quick enlighten'd soul,

The graceful ease, the flowing tongue of Greece,
Join'd to the virtues and the force of Rome.

Eternal Wisdom, that all-quickening Sun,

Whence every life, in just proportion, draws
Directing light and actuating flame,
Ne'er with a larger portion of its beams
Awaken'd mortal clay. Hence steady, calm,
Diffusive, deep, and clear, his reason saw,
With instantaneous view, the truth of things;
Chief what to human life and human bliss
Pertains, that noblest science, fit for man :
And hence, responsive to his knowledge, glow'd
His ardent virtue. Ignorance and Vice,

In consort foul, agree, each heightening each;
While Virtue draws from Knowledge brighter fire.
What grand, what comely, or what tender sense,
What talent, or what virtue, was not his?
What that can render man or great or good,
Give useful worth or amiable grace ?
Nor could he brook in studious shade to lie,
In soft retirement, indolently pleased
With selfish peace. The Siren of the wise
(Who steals th' Aönian song, and, in the shape
Of Virtue, woos them from a worthless world),
Though deep he felt her charms, could never melt
His strenuous spirit, recollected, calm

As silent night, yet active as the day.

The more the bold, the bustling, and the bad,
Press to usurp the reins of power, the more
Behoves it Virtue, with indignant zeal,
To check their combination. Shall low views
Of sneaking Interest or luxurious Vice,
The villain's passions, quicken more to toil,
And dart a livelier vigour through the soul,
Than those that, mingled with our truest good,
With present honour and immortal fame,
Involve the good of all? An empty form

Is the weak Virtue that amid the shade
Lamenting lies, with future schemes amused,
While Wickedness and Folly, kindred powers,
Confound the world. A Talbot's, different far,
Sprung ardent into action, that disdain'd
To lose in death-like sloth one pulse of life
That might be saved; disdain'd, for coward Ease
And her insipid pleasures, to resign

The prize of glory, the keen sweets of toil,
And those high joys that teach the truly great
To live for others, and for others die.

Early, behold! he breaks benign on life.
Not breathing more beneficence, the Spring
Leads in her swelling train the gentle airs:
While gay, behind her, smiles the kindling waste
Of ruffian storms and Winter's lawless rage.

In him Astræa to this dim abode

Of ever-wandering men return'd again :
To bless them his delight, to bring them back,
From thorny error, from unjoyous wrong,
Into the paths of kind primeval faith,
Of happiness and justice. All his parts,
His virtues all, collected, sought the good
Of human-kind. For that he, fervent, felt
The throb of patriots, when they model states:
Anxious for that, nor needful sleep could hold
His still awaken'd soul; nor friends had charms
To steal, with pleasing guile, one useful hour;
Toil knew no languor, no attraction joy.
Thus with unwearied steps, by Virtue led,
He gain'd the summit of that sacred hill,

Where, raised above black Envy's darkening clouds,
Her spotless temple lifts its radiant front.
Be named, victorious ravagers, no more!

Vanish, ye human comets! shrink your blaze!
Ye that your glory to your terrors owe,
As, o'er the gazing, desolated earth,
You scatter famine, pestilence, and war;
Vanish before this vernal sun of fame!
Effulgent sweetness! beaming life and joy!

How the heart listen'd while he, pleading, spoke!
While on th' enlighten'd mind, with winning art,
His gentle reason so persuasive stole,
That the charm'd hearer thought it was his own.
Ah! when, ye studious of the laws, again
Shall such enchanting lessons bless your ear?
When shall again the darkest truths, perplex'd,
Be set in ample day? when shall the harsh
And arduous open into smiling ease?
The solid mix with elegant delight?
His was the talent, with the purest light
At once to pour conviction on the soul,
And warm with lawful flame th' impassion'd heart.
That dangerous gift with him was safely lodged
By Heaven: He, sacred to his country's cause,
To trampled want and worth, to suffering right,
To the lone widow's and her orphans' woes,
Reserved the mighty charm. With equal brow,
Despising then the smiles or frowns of Power,
He all that noblest eloquence effused,

Which generous Passion, taught by Reason, breathes :
Then spoke the man and over barren Art
Prevail'd abundant Nature. Freedom then
His client was, Humanity, and Truth.

Placed on the seat of justice, there he reign'd,

In a superior sphere of cloudless day,
A pure intelligence. No tumult there,
No dark emotion, no intemperate heat,

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No passion, e'er disturb'd the clear serene
That round him spread. A zeal for right alone,
The love of justice, like the steady sun,

Its equal ardour lent; and sometimes, raised
Against the sons of violence, of pride,
And bold deceit, his indignation gleam'd,
Yet still by sober dignity restrain'd.
As intuition quick, he snatch'd the truth;
Yet with progressive patience, step by step,
Self-diffident, or to the slower kind,

He through the maze of falsehood traced it on,
Till, at the last, evolved, it full appear'd,
And even the loser own'd the just decree.

But when in senates he, to Freedom firm,
Enlighten'd Freedom, plann'd salubrious laws,
His various learning, his wide knowledge then,
His insight deep into Britannia's weal,
Spontaneous seem'd from simple sense to flow,
And the plain patriot smoothed the brow of Law.
No specious swell, no frothy pomp of words
Fell on the cheated ear; no studied maze
Of declamation, to perplex the right,
He, darkening, threw around: safe in itself,
In its own force, all-powerful Reason spoke;
While on the great, the ruling point, at once,
He stream'd decisive day, and show'd it vain
To lengthen farther out the clear debate.
Conviction breathes conviction; to the heart,
Pour'd ardent forth in eloquence unbid,
The heart attends: for let the venal try
Their every hardening, stupifying art,
Truth must prevail, zeal will enkindle zeal,
And Nature, skilful touch'd, is honest still.

Behold him in the councils of his prince.

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