APOSTROPHE,
TO THE HARP OF DENNIS HAMPSON,
THE MINSTREL OF MAGILLIGAN, IN THE COUNTY OF DERRY.
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In the
gloom of repose, from the hand that has often,
Through transport the purest,
touch’d gently thy strings,
Thou art destined, ah never! again once to soften
The heart with such rapture
as melody brings.
Ah, no! dearest harp! bleakest ruin hangs o’er
thee,
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Thy
chords are all torn—and the minstrel now dead,
Who first through his own native isle proudly bore
thee,
And loved from thy bosom
soft music to shed. [Page 166]
Yet the children of Erin shall guard safe the willow,
That bends in luxuriance
o’er his lone grave,
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And
nods in the night-winds—half fanned by the
billow,
Which loves the Magilligan
shores still to lave.
In the sunshine of days—now but living in
story,
Around his thatched cot
would the villagers throng,
When the heart felt no motion, save proud bursts
of glory,
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And
thrills of delight still awoke by his song.
Oh, HAMPSON!*
each charm sweetest music has in it,
In soul-breathing numbers
came forth at thy touch,
And yielded fresh rapture, each heavenly minute,
That the heart, until then,
never knew half as much. [Page 167]
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But peace to thy shade!—and while o’er
thy wrecked lyre—
True emblem of Erin—now
hushed in the hall—
In sorrow I gaze—deep reflections inspire,
And saddest emotions my
bosom enthral.
Yet, dare I but venture, loved harp, to restring
thee,
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With
hand, though but humble—is faithful and true—
The zephyrs, while playing at evening, might bring
thee
Such music as Memnon’s,
when sunbeams glide through.
But now, since the night shades are closing around
thee,
My last parting wish o’er
thee bending I’ll pour:—
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Undisturbed
may’st thou rest—as when first I found
thee—
Till freedom, to Erin, her
anthem restore.*
[Page 168]
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*
This ‘son of song,’ and the last of
the wandering minstrels of Ireland, died in his
own little cottage, on the shores of Magilligan,
in 1808, at the advanced age of 115 years. LADY
MORGAN has lately caused a marble slab, with a suitable
inscription, to be placed over his grave.—My
talented friend, of the Irish Shield, GEORGE PEPPER,
has given, in that valuable publication, a very
interesting description of Magilligan, worthy of
his classical and highly accomplished pen. [back]
* Since the above stanzas were
written, the noble efforts of our generous SOVEREIGN,
assisted by the immortal WELLINGTON, and other distinguished
patriots, have happily procured for Ireland her
long sought freedom. [back] |
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