LINESII

linesii

[foramonumentcommemoratingthesuddendeathbydrowningofafamily,offoursonsandtwodaughters]

(1831)

tearsareforlightergriefs.manweepsthedoom,

thatsealsasinglevictimtothetomb.

butwhendeathriots—when,withwhelmingsway,

destructionsweepsafamilyaway;

wheninfancyandyouth,ahuddledmass,

allinaninstanttooblivionpass,

andparents'hopesarecrush'd;whatlamentation

canreachthedepthofsuchadesolation?

lookupward,feebleones!lookupandtrust,

thathewholaystheirmortalframeindust,

stillhaththeimmortalspiritinhiskeeping—

injesus'sighttheyarenotdeadbutsleeping.

toc.aders,esq.

onhiscollectionofpaintingsbytheoldgermanmasters

(1831)

friendliestofmen,aders,inevercome

withintheprecinctsofthissacredroom,

butiamstruckwithareligiousfear,

whichsays"letnoprofaneeyeenterhere."

withimageryfromheav'nthewallsareclothed,

makingthethingsoftimeseemvileandloathed.

sparesaints,whosebodiesseemsustain'dbylove,

withmartyrsoldinmeekprocessionmove.

herekneelsaweepingmagdalen,lessbright

tohumansenseforherblurr'dcheeks;insight

ofeyes,new-touch'dbyheav'n,morewinningfair

thanwhenherbeautywasheronlycare.

ahermitherestrangemysteriesdothunlock

indesartsole,hiskneeswornbytherock.

thereangelharpsaresounding,whilebelow

palm-bearingvirginsinwhiteordergo.

madonnas,variedwithsochastedesign,

whileallaredifferent,eachseemsgenuine,

andherstheonlyjesus:hardoutline,

andrigidform,bydurer'shandsubdued

tomatchlessgrace,andsacro-sanctitude;

durer,whomakesthyslightedgermany

viewiththepraiseofpaint-prouditaly.

whoeverenter'sthere,nomorepersume

tonameaparlour,oradrawingroom;

but,bendinglowlytoeachholystory,

makethisthychapel,andthineoratory.