ELEGY,ONW.BECKFORDESQ.Originally published in London in 1770 (28 stanzas), shortly after Beckford's death on 21 June, attributed
to Chatterton. 1778 reprints the extract (stanzas 1-12), which appeared in
London Magazine xxxix (July 1770), 379.
WEEPon,yeBritons—giveyourgen'raltear;Buthence,yevenal—hence,eachtitledslave;AnhonestpangshouldwaitonBeckford'sbier,Andpatriotanguishmarkthepatriot'sgrave.WhenliketheRomantohisfieldretir'd,'Twasyou,(surroundedbyunnumber'dfoes)Whocall'dhimforth,hisservicesrequir'd,Andtookfromagetheblessingofrepose.Withsoulimpell'dbyvirtue'ssacredflame,Tostemthetorrentofcorruption'stide,Hecame,heav'nfraughtwithliberty!HecameAndnoblyinhiscoutry'sservicedied.Inthelastawful,thedepartinghour,Whenlife'spoorlampmorefaint,andfaintergrew;Asmem'ryfeeblyexercis'dherpower,Heonlyfeltforlibertyandyou.Heview'ddeath'sarrowwithachristianeye,Withfirmnessonlytoachristianknown;AndnoblygaveyourmiseriesthatsighWithwhichhenevergratifiedhisown.Thou,breathingsculpture,celebratehisfame,Andgivehislaureleverlastingbloom;Receiv'dhisworthwhilegratitudehasname,Andteachsucceedingagesfromhistomb.Theswordofjusticecautiouslyhesway'd,Hishandforeverheldthebalanceright;Eachvenialfaultwithpityhesurvey'd,Butmurderfoundnomercyinhissight.Heknewwhenflatterersbesiegeathrone,Truthseldomreachestoamonarch'sear;Knew,ifoppress'daloyalpeoplegroan,'Tisnotthecourtier'sinterestheshouldhear,Hence,honesttohisprince,hismanlytongue,Thepublicwrongandloyaltyconvey'd,Whiletitledtremblers,ev'rynerveunstrung,Look'dallaround,confoundedanddismay'd.Look'dallaround,astonish'dtobehold,(Train'duptoflatt'ryfromtheirearlyyouth)Anartless,fearlesscitizen,unfoldToroyalears,amortifyingtruth.Titlestohimnopleasurecouldimpart,Nobribeshisrigidvirtuecouldcontroul;Thestarcouldnevergainuponhisheart,Norturnthetideofhonourinhissoul.Forthishisnameourhist'ryshalladorn,ShallsoaronFame'swidepinionsallsublime;'Tillheaven'sownbright,andneverdyingmornAbsorbsourlittleparticleoftime.