 | Original Poems and Translations |  |
41
ON THE DEATH of the Right Honourable The EARL of UXBRIDGE.
Quem tu, Dea, tempore in omni
Omnibus ornatum voluisti excellere rebus.
Lucr.
Omnibus ornatum voluisti excellere rebus.
Lucr.
As 'midst the stars the cheering lamp of light,
In heav'n's high concave eminently bright,
First tips the mountains with a golden ray,
Then gradual streams effulgency of day,
Till more serenely, with a mild decline,
Regretted sinks, in other worlds to shine:
In heav'n's high concave eminently bright,
First tips the mountains with a golden ray,
Then gradual streams effulgency of day,
Till more serenely, with a mild decline,
Regretted sinks, in other worlds to shine:
Thus from the world, an age of honour past,
Pride of the present, glory of the last,
Retir'd great Uxbridge to the blest abode,
To live for ever with the Saints of God;
There in celestial lustre to appear,
And share the wages of his labours here.
When the last trump shall rouse the dead that sleep
Entomb'd in earth, or buried in the deep;
When worlds dissolving on that awful day,
And all the elements shall melt away;
When every word shall be in judgment brought,
Weigh'd every action, canvass'd every thought:
Then shall thy alms in sweet memorial rise,
More grateful than the incens'd sacrifice:
The gladden'd widow's blessing shall be heard,
And prayers in fervency of soul preferr'd.
The Lord shall bless thee, and well pleas'd survey
The tears of orphans wip'd by thee away.
Pride of the present, glory of the last,
Retir'd great Uxbridge to the blest abode,
To live for ever with the Saints of God;
There in celestial lustre to appear,
And share the wages of his labours here.
42
Entomb'd in earth, or buried in the deep;
When worlds dissolving on that awful day,
And all the elements shall melt away;
When every word shall be in judgment brought,
Weigh'd every action, canvass'd every thought:
Then shall thy alms in sweet memorial rise,
More grateful than the incens'd sacrifice:
The gladden'd widow's blessing shall be heard,
And prayers in fervency of soul preferr'd.
The Lord shall bless thee, and well pleas'd survey
The tears of orphans wip'd by thee away.
What! but a virtue resolutely just,
Firm to its purpose, steady to its trust,
The full persuasion, and the true delight
Of having acted by the rules of right,
Could to thy soul a conscious calm impart,
When Death severe approach'd, and shook his dreadful dart.
Twas this thy faith confirm'd, thy joy refin'd,
And spoke sweet solace to thy troubled mind;
This turn'd to silent peace each rising dread,
And sooth'd the terrors of the dying bed.
Firm to its purpose, steady to its trust,
The full persuasion, and the true delight
Of having acted by the rules of right,
Could to thy soul a conscious calm impart,
When Death severe approach'd, and shook his dreadful dart.
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And spoke sweet solace to thy troubled mind;
This turn'd to silent peace each rising dread,
And sooth'd the terrors of the dying bed.
May we like thee in piety excel,
Believe as stedfastly, and act as well;
Cleave to the good, and from the bad depart,
And wear the scriptures written in our heart :
Then shall we live, like thee, serenely gay,
And every moment calmly pass away:
And when this transitory life is o'er,
And all these earthly vanities no more,
Shall go where perfect peace is only found,
And streams of pleasure flow, an everlasting round.
Believe as stedfastly, and act as well;
Cleave to the good, and from the bad depart,
And wear the scriptures written in our heart :
Then shall we live, like thee, serenely gay,
And every moment calmly pass away:
And when this transitory life is o'er,
And all these earthly vanities no more,
Shall go where perfect peace is only found,
And streams of pleasure flow, an everlasting round.
September 3, 1743.
| Original Poems and Translations | |