OdeOnTheDepartedRegencyBill

odeonthedepartedregencybill

(march,1789)

daughterofchaos'dotingyears,

nurseoftenthousandhopesandfears,

whetherthyairy,insubstantialshade

(therightsofsepulturenowdulypaid)

spreadabroaditshideousform

ontheroaringcivilstorm,

deafeningdinandwarringrage

factionswildwithfactionswage;

orunder-ground,deep-sunk,profound,

amongthedemonsoftheearth,

withgroansthatmakethemountainsshake,

thoumournthyill-starr'd,blightedbirth;

orintheuncreatedvoid,

whereseedsoffuturebeingfight,

withlessen'dstepthouwanderwide,

togreetthymother—ancientnight.

andaseachjarring,monster-massispast,

fondrecollectwhatoncethouwast:

inmannerdue,beneaththissacredoak,

hear,spirit,hear!thypresenceiinvoke!

byamonarch'sheaven-struckfate,

byadisunitedstate,

byagenerousprince'swrongs.

byasenate'sstrifeoftongues,

byapremier'ssullenpride,

louringonthechangingtide;

bydreadthurlow'spowerstoawe

rhetoric,blasphemyandlaw;

bytheturbulentocean—

anation'scommotion,

bytheharlot-caresses

ofboroughaddresses,

bydaysfewandevil,

(thyportion,poordevil!)

bypower,wealth,andshow,

(thegodsbymenadored,)

bynamelesspoverty,

(theirhellabhorred,)

byalltheyhope,byalltheyfear,

hear!andappear!

starenotonme,thoughastlypower!

nor,grimwithchaineddefiance,lour:

nobabel-structurewouldibuild

where,orderexil'dfromhisnativesway,

confusionmaytheregent-sceptrewield,

whileallwouldruleandnoneobey:

go,totheworldofmanrelate

thestoryofthysad,eventfulfate;