 fervent desire of seeing his productions. - In this too he gratified
my inclination: - he promised to bring his tragedy to my room next day, and, in
the mean time, entertained me with some detach'd pieces, which gave me a very
advantageous idea of his poetical talent. - Among other things I was
particularly pleased with some elegies, in imitation of Tibullus; one of which I
beg leave to submit to the reader, as a specimen of his complexion and capacity.
 
                                       I.
Where now are all my flatt'ring dreams of joy!
Monimia, give my soul her wonted rest; -
Since first thy beauty fix'd my roving eye,
Heart-gnawing cares corrode my pensive breast!
 
                                      II.
Let happy lovers fly where pleasures call,
With festive songs beguile the fleeting hour;
Lead beauty thro' the mazes of the ball,
Or press her wanton in love's roseate bow'r.
 
                                      III.
For me, no more I'll range th' empurpled mead,
Where shepherds pipe, and virgins dance around;
Nor wander thro' the woodbine's fragrant shade,
To hear the music of the grove resound.
 
                                      IV.
I'll seek some lonely church, or dreary hall,
Where fancy paints the glimm'ring taper blue,
Where damps hang mould'ring on the ivy'd wall,
And sheeted ghosts drink up the midnight dew:
 
                                       V.
There leagu'd with hopeless anguish and despair,
A-while in silence o'er my fate repine;
Then, with a long farewell to love and care,
To kindred dust my weary limbs consign.
 
                                      VI.
Wilt thou, Monimia, shed a gracious tear
On the cold grave where all my sorrows rest?
Wilt thou strew flow'rs, applaud my love sincere,
And bid the turf lie light upon my breast!
 
I was wonderfully affected with this pathetic complaint, which seem'd so well
calculated for my own disappointment in love, that I could not help attaching
the idea of Narcissa to the name of Monimia, and of forming such melancholy
presages of my passion, that I could not recover my tranquility; and was fain to
have recourse to the bottle, which prepared me for a profound sleep that I would
not otherwise have enjoyed. - Whether these impressions invited and introduced a
train of other melancholy reflections, or my fortitude was all exhausted in the
effort I made against despondence, the first day of my imprisonment, I cannot
determine; but I awaked in the horrors, and found my imagination haunted with
such dismal apparitions, that I was ready to
