ELEGY , On the DEATH of MR. BUCKINGHAM ST. JOHN , TUTOR of YALE COLLEGE , who was drowned in his Passage from New-Haven to Norwalk , May the 5th , 1771. THE world now yields to night's returning sway ; The deeper glooms lead on the solemn hour , And call my steps , beneath the moon's pale ray , To roam in sadness on the sea-beat shore . Now glide the unconstant shadows o'er the plain , The broad moon swimming thro' the broken clouds , The gleam of waters brightens on the main , And anchor'd navies lift their waving shrouds . Deep silence reigns , save on the moory ground , The long reed rustling to the passing gales , The noise of dashing waves , and hollow sound Of rushing winds that murmur thro' the sails . Far hence , ye pleasures of a mind at ease , The sprightly joys that rural scenes can yield , When spring , led jocund by the soft'ning breeze Wakes the glad morn and robes the dewy field . Far be the giddy raptures of the gay , The midnight joys licentious youth can share , While Ruin , smiling o'er her destin'd prey , In sweet allurements hides her deadly snare . Mine be the music of the rolling wave , The moonlight shadows and surrounding gloom , Mine the dread haunts of Contemplation grave , That lift the soul to scenes beyond the tomb . Here while deep midnight hold her silent reign , And fancy bears the ravish'd thought along , Dark Melancholy spreads her airy train , And Friendship calls and Grief inspires the song . As thro' these mournful glooms I stretch my sight , Mid sounds of death that bid the soul attend , Mid empty forms and fleeting shapes of night , Slowly I view a whiterobed shade ascend . That says , " I once was St. John ! from the bounds Of unknown realms beneath the dreary wave , Where ever-restless floods in nightly rounds , Roll their dark surges o'er my watry grave . From seats which , near to mortal sight display'd , The gates of vast eternity surround , In night conceal'd and death's impervious shade , My voice ascends ! attend the warning sound . Oh , thou attend ! who flush'd with early bloom , In life's new spring and vernal sweetness gay , Mindless of fate , that must thy branch entomb , Spread'st thy green blossoms to the morning ray . With thee how late , how like alas , to thee , To mortal joys by opening youth beguil'd , I stretch'd my airy wish , and follow'd free , Where pleasure triumph'd and where fancy smil'd . Then while fond Hope her glitt'ring pinions spread , Pointing to climes beyond the distant wave , Ev'n then unnoticed o'er my destined head Hung Death's dire form and seal'd me for the grave . How vain the thought for many a joyous morn , To taste of raptures unallay'd by woe ! At once from life and every pleasure torn , From all I wish'd and all I loved below . The faithless morning , on our opening sails , Smiled out serene and smooth'd our gliding way , While the gay vessel , fann'd by breathing gales , Play'd on the placid bosom of the sea . When lo , descending on the dark'ning wind , Burst the dire storm — and feeble to sustain The rushing blasts in warring fury join'd , The frail skiff sinks beneath the surging main . And see , afar the oarless boat conveys The trembling sailors to the distant shore ; Alone , of aid bereft , with one last gaze , I sunk in deeps and sunk to rise no more . In that sad hour , what fearful scenes arise , What pangs distress , what unknown fears dismay , When future worlds disclosing on our eyes , The trembling soul forsakes her kindred clay ! Before the awful bar , th' almighty throne , In dread , I've stood th' Eternal Judge to see , And fix'd in bliss , or doom'd to endless moan , Have heard the long , the unrevers'd decree : Nor earth must know the rest " — Where art thou now , In youthful joys my partner and my friend , Of those blest hours thy fortune gave below , Of all our hopes is this the fatal end ? Oh what avail'd that energy of mind , For distant realms of science to explore , That early led where Genius unconfin'd Spreads her glad feast and opes her clasic store ? Ah what avail'd , mid earthly hopes so frail , The same gay-dawning on thy rising years ? Ah what avail'd ( for what could then avail ? ) Thy friend's deep sorrow , or thy country's tears ? In pleasure's paths , where vivid fancy led , Mid ev'ry hope that blooming worth could raise , The wings of death , with fatal horror spread , Blank'd the bright promise of thy future days . So from the lowring west the darkened clouds Rush on the sun and dim his orient ray , And hateful night in glooms untimely shrouds Th' ascending glories of the vernal day . Adieu , my friend , so dear in vain , adieu , Till some short days their fleeting courses roll , Soon shall our steps thine earlier fate pursue , Moved in the race and crowding to the goal . Th' approaching hour shall see the sun no more Wheel his long course , or spread his golden ray ; Soon shall the dream of mortal life be o'er , The brightness dawning of celestial day . Then join'd in bliss , as once in friendship join'd , May pitying heav'n our purer spirits raise , Each crime atoned , each virtue well refined , To pass a blest eternity of praise .