MIRA's DESPAIR, An ELEGY

'Twas the still Hour of Vesper's shining, When MIRA sought a Rock's Retreat; Where oozy Sea-Weeds hang entwining, And wept salt Tricklings at her Feet.

The wat'ry Waste, Heav'us Concave bounding, 'Gan now with lashing Foam to flow; And dusky Twilight all-surrounding, Mourn'd sympathetic to her Woe.

A while in sullen Silence musing, She lay reflecting Scenes behind: 'Till tort'ring Thought Grief's Rage arousing, Sigh'd thus her Sorrows to the Wind:

"Ye clifted Rocks! with Summits soaring, That high o'erhang this sandy Plain; Whence softer Streams, in Cat'racts roaring, Conjoin the salt, caerulean Main.

Within your wave-worn, lone Recesses, Entomb a Grief-distracted Maid; Where Terror stalks with startling Tresses, And Darkness frowns a pitchy Shade.

And thou, O Deep! that hear'st my Pining, (Th' unvailing Fume of phrenzied Breath) 'Twas conscious Thou and Fate combining, That vail'd my Damon's Eyes in Death.

Him howling Storms, of Life divested, Have made some hungry Fishes Prey; And from my Eyes for ever wrested, On this Side Time's short-during Day.

With Light'ning's Speed ev'n now I'll follow His Shade beyond the Reach of Pain; Ev'n now the heaving Surge I'll hollow, And press the Bottom of the Main.

So icy Death, Heav'n's awful Envoy, Long-wish'd, shall change my sick'ning State; And lend a fear-form'd fleeting Convoy, And waft me to the Realms of Fate.

She ceas'd—for Night's dark Mantle spreading, Had sably veil'd the vaulted Sky; Nor social Sound her Sorrows heeding, Save mocking Echo made Reply.

DESPAIR her beauteous Bosom rending, Had now suffus'd Hope's glimm'ring Ray; When from the rude Rock's Summit bending, She desp'rate plung'd her headlong Way.