The DOWAGER.

The DOWAGER . By the Same . WHERE aged elms in many a goodly row Give yearly shelter to the constant crow , A mansion stands : — long since the pile was rais'd , Whose Gothic grandeur the rude hind amaz'd . For the rich ornament on ev'ry part , Confess'd the founder's wealth , and workman's art : Tho' as the range of the wide court we tread , The broken arch now totters o'er the head ; And where of old rose high the social smoke , Now swallows build , and lonely ravens croak . Tho' Time , whose touch each beauty can deface , Has torn from ev'ry tow'r the sculptur'd grace ; Tho' round each stone the sluggard ivy crawls , Yet ancient state sits hov'ring on the walls . Where wont the festal chorus to resound , And jocund dancing frequent beat the ground , Now Silence spreads around her gloomy reign , Save when the mastiff clanks his iron chain , Save when his hoarse bark echoes dire alarm , Fierce to protect the place from midnight harm , Its only guard ; no revel sounding late Drives the night villain from the lonely gate . An hallow'd matron and her simple train These solemn battlements alone contain ; An hoary dowager , whose placid face Old age has deck'd with lovely aweful grace ; With almost vernal bloom her cheek still strow'd , As beauty ling'ring left her lov'd abode ; That lov'd abode , where join'd with truth and sense She form'd the features to mute eloquence , And bade them charm the still attentive throng , Who watch'd the sacred lessons of her tongue . For not thro' life the dame had liv'd retir'd , But once had shone , e'en 'midst a court admir'd : What time the lov'd possessor of her charms Returning from the war in victor arms , Call'd from his monarch's tongue the plausive praise , While honour wreath'd him with unfading bays . She , happy partner of each joyful hour , Then walk'd serene amid the pomp of pow'r : While all confess'd no warrior's wish could move For fairer prize , than such accomplish'd love : Nor to that love could aught more transport yield , Than graceful valour from the victor field . Thus flourish'd once the beauteous and the brave ; But mortal bliss meets still th' untimely grave : Aurelius died — his relict's pious tear O'er his lov'd ashes frequent flow'd sincere , Each decent rite with due observance paid , Each solemn requiem offer'd to his shade , Plac'd 'mid the brave his urn in holy ground , And bade his hallow'd banners wave around . Then left the gaudy scenes of pomp and power , While prudence beckon'd to that ancient bower , And those paternal fields , the sole remains Of ample woods and far-extended plains , Which tyrant custom rudely tore away To distant heirship an expected prey . Serene she sought the far-retired grove , Once the bless'd mansion of her happy love , Pleas'd with the thought , that memory oft would raise A solemn prospect of those blooming days Aurelius gave : her pious purpose now To keep still constant to her sacred vow ; In lonely luxury her sorrows feed , And pass her life in widow's decent weed . One pledge of love her comfort still remain'd , Whom in this solitude she careful train'd To virtuous lore ; and while as year by year New graces made Aurelia still more dear ; Full many an hour unheeded she would trace The father's semblance in the daughter's face ; While tender sighs oft heav'd her faithful breast , And sudden tears her lasting love exprest . Thus long she dwelt in innate virtues great , Amid the villagers in sacred state : For ev'ry grace to which submission bows , The pow'r which conscious dignity bestows , She felt superior ; for from ancient race She gloried her long ancestry to trace ; And ever bade Aurelia's thought aspire To every grace , each ray of sacred fire , That full of heav'n-born dignity informs The mortal breast which ardent virtue warms ; Then led her to the venerable hall Where her successive sires adorn'd the wall , And arched windows with their blazon bright Shed thro' the herald glow a solemn light : There clad in rough habiliments of war Full many a hero bore a glorious scar ; There in the civic fur the sons of peace , Whose counsels bade their country's tumults cease ; While by their side , gracing the ancient scene , Hung gentle ladies of most comely mien . Then eager thro' the well-known tale she run , In what fair cause each honour had been won , What female grace each virgin had possess'd To charm to gentle love the manly breast ; Pleas'd to observe how long her gen'rous blood Thro' fair and brave had pass'd a spotless flood . Mean while the young Aurelia's bosom sir'd With emulation by each tale inspir'd , In eager transport frequent breath'd her prayer The graces of her ancestry to share : Nor breath'd in vain , her fond maternal guide Cherish'd with care each spark of virtuous pride ; And ever as she gave a lesson new , Would point some old example to her view : Inflam'd by this , her mind was quickly fraught With each sage precept , that her mother taught . The goodly dame thus bless'd in her employ , Felt each soft transport of parental joy , And liv'd content , her utmost wish fulfill'd In the fair prospect of a virtuous child : Resign'd she waited now the aweful hour Then death should raise her to that heav'nly bow'r , There with her lov'd Aurelius she might share The pleasing task , to watch with guardian care Their offspring's steps , and hov'ring o'er her head , The gracious dew of heavenly peace to shed ; Nor fear'd her decency of life would prove An added bliss to all the joys above .