MONODY ON HENRY HEADLEY. William Lisle Bowles Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Bowles, William Lisle, 1762-1850. The Poetical Works of William Lisle Bowles, Vol. I. With Memoir, Critical Dissertation, and Explanatory Notes by George Gilfillan. Edinburgh James Nichol, 9 North Bank Street... 1855 pp. 36-37.

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MONODY ON HENRY HEADLEY . To every gentle Muse in vain allied , In youth's full early morning Headley died ! Too long had sickness left her pining trace , With slow , still touch , on each decaying grace : Untimely sorrow marked his thoughtful mien ! Despair upon his languid smile was seen ! Yet Resignation , musing on the grave , ( When now no hope could cheer , no pity save ) , And Virtue , that scarce felt its fate severe , And pale Affection , dropping soft a tear For friends beloved , from whom she soon must part , Breathed a sad solace on his aching heart . Nor ceased he yet to stray , where , winding wild , The Muse's path his drooping steps beguiled , Intent to rescue some neglected rhyme , Lone-blooming , from the mournful waste of time ; And cull each scattered sweet , that seemed to smile Like flowers upon some long-forsaken pile . Alluding to the Beauties of Ancient Poetry , published by Mr Headley , a short time before his death . He was also the author of some pleasing original poetry . Far from the murmuring crowd , unseen , he sought Each charm congenial to his saddened thought . When the gray morn illumed the mountain's side , To hear the sweet birds ' earliest song he hied ; When meekest eve to the fold's distant bell Listened , and bade the woods and vales farewell , Musing in tearful mood , he oft was seen The last that lingered on the fading green . The waving wood high o'er the cliff reclined , The murmuring waterfall , the winter's wind , His temper's trembling texture seemed to suit ; As airs of sadness the responsive lute . Yet deem not hence the social spirit dead , Though from the world's hard gaze his feelings fled : Firm was his friendship , and his faith sincere , And warm as Pity's his unheeded tear , That wept the ruthless deed , the poor man's fate , By fortune's storms left cold and desolate . Farewell ! yet be this humble tribute paid To all his virtues , from that social shade Where once we sojourned . Trinity College , Oxford . Among my contemporaries were several young men of literary taste and talent , Headley , Kett , Benwell , Dallaway , Richards , and Dornford ; Thomas Warton was one of the Senior Fellows . I , alas ! remain To mourn the hours of youth , yet mourn in vain , That fled neglected . Wisely thou hast trod The better path ; and that High Meed , which God Ordained for Virtue towering from the dust , Shall bless thy labours , spirit pure and just !