THE LIFE AND DEATH.

THE LIFE.

HATH Momus descended, the god of Mirth,

To glad the world with his triumphs thus?

Or is it a mortal, who tastes on earth

An apotheosis rapturous!

While his worshippers hail him with choral cries,

And Laughter's reverberant ecstasies!

He moves like a mental sun, whose light
Scatters around an electric ray,

Which every eye that beholds, is bright,
And every bosom that feels, is gay,-

A sun, (it is own'd by a nation's lips,)

That hath ne'er been dimm'd,-never known eclipse!

As this Spirit sits on his throne elate,

They tender him homage from every sphere: From the rich, the noble, the wise, the great,—

Nay, even the King is a courtier here;

And, vassal-like, makes his crown submit

To the majesty of sceptred Wit.

They press him with flattering words and wiles

To honour and grace their lordly halls,

And impart by his mirth, and songs, and smiles,

A glory and zest to their festivals.

For they know that his presence can banish gloom, And give light and life to the banquet-room.

On what aching hearts hath he gladness pour'd!

In scenes unnumber'd, what countless throngs, From the public stage to the festive board,

Have enraptured hung on his mirthful songs!

At his wit's incessantly flashing light,

What shouts have startled the ear of night!

Ask you the name of the gifted man,

Whose genius thus could enchant the world; Whose fame through both the hemispheres ran,

Whose flag of triumph was never furl'd?—

You ask it not, for you know that none

But MATHEWS alone has such trophies won!

THE DEATH.

Hark to the toll of the passing bell,

Which "swinging slow with solemn roar,"

Carries the dismal funeral knell

O'er the thrilling waves of the Plymouth shore;

And is borne afar by the shuddering breeze,

From Wembury's cliffs to Mount-Edgecumbe's trees.

Nature appears to have thrown a pall

Over that landscape so rich and fair,

For a withering gloom and sadness fall

Alike upon ocean, earth, and air,

And the darkling heights in the distance show Like spectral mourners, grim with woe.

The bittern's wail and the sea-mew's cry, Seem to share the deep and wide distress, As their wings they spread, and seaward fly Away from that scene of wretchedness:

And the booming moan of the distant surge Falls on the ear like a doleful dirge.

Hark! 'tis a female cry-'tis the sound

Of a widow's heart with anguish torn;
A groan succeeds, and the sob profound
Of a sireless son, aghast, forlorn!
And oh! how loving and loved they were,
Their own 'reft hearts can alone declare.

Behold! from St. Andrew's Church appears

A funeral train in its sad array,

Whose mourners, blind with their stanchless tears,

With faltering footsteps feel their way

To the bones and mould thrown up in a heap

Beside a sepulchre dark and deep.

The coffin is sunk, the prayer is pour'd"Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust."

They sprinkle earth on the rattling board,

And they whose heads o'er the grave are thrust,

Draw back at the sound with a shuddering start, For its awful echoes thrill their heart.

As if it were sent to reveal and bless,

A ray through the lurid vapour beams,

Pierces the sepulchre's ghastliness,

And lo! on the coffin's plate it gleams.

Th' inscription now may be plainly read

"Charles Mathews"-that's the name of the dead.