23
Oh! if in life one noble Chief appears,
Great in his name, while blooming in his years;
Born to enjoy whate'er delights mankind,
And yet to all you feel or fear resign'd;
Who gave up joys and hopes to you unknown,
For pains and dangers greater than your own!
If such there be, then let your murmurs cease,
Think, think of him, and take your lot in peace.
And such there was:-Oh! grief, that checks our pride,
Weeping we say there was, for Manners died;
Belov'd of Heaven, these humble lines forgive,
That sing of Thee,[1] and thus aspire to live.
As the tall Oak, whose vigorous branches form
An ample shade and brave the wildest storm,
High o'er the subject Wood is seen to grow,
The guard and glory of the Trees below;
Till on its head the fiery bolt descends,
And o'er the plain the shatter'd trunk extends;
Great in his name, while blooming in his years;
Born to enjoy whate'er delights mankind,
And yet to all you feel or fear resign'd;
Who gave up joys and hopes to you unknown,
For pains and dangers greater than your own!
If such there be, then let your murmurs cease,
Think, think of him, and take your lot in peace.
And such there was:-Oh! grief, that checks our pride,
Weeping we say there was, for Manners died;
Belov'd of Heaven, these humble lines forgive,
That sing of Thee,[1] and thus aspire to live.
As the tall Oak, whose vigorous branches form
An ample shade and brave the wildest storm,
High o'er the subject Wood is seen to grow,
The guard and glory of the Trees below;
Till on its head the fiery bolt descends,
And o'er the plain the shatter'd trunk extends;
- ↑ Lord Robert Manners, the youngest son of the Marquis of Granby and the Lady Frances Seymour, daughter of Charles Duke of Somerset, was born the 5th of February, 1758, and was placed with his brother, the late Duke of Rutland, at Eton-School, where he acquired, and ever after retained, a considerable knowledge of the classical authors.
Lord Robert, after going through the duties of his profession on board different ships, was made Captain of the Resolution, and commanded her in nine different actions, besides the last memorable one, on the 2d of April, 1782, when, in breaking the French Line of Battle, he received the wounds which terminated his life, in the 24th year of his age.
See the Annual Register, printed for Mr. Dodsley.
