The Shamrock or, Hibernian Cresses. A Collection of Poems, Songs, Epigrams, &c. Latin as well as English, The Original Production of Ireland. To which are subjoined thoughts on the prevailing system of school education, respecting young ladies as well as gentlemen: with practical proposals for a reformation [by Samuel Whyte] |
 |
To the Memory of the Right Hon. Charlotte,
Lady Viscountess Townshend,
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
 | The Shamrock |  |
To the Memory of the Right Hon. Charlotte, Lady Viscountess Townshend,
Who died at Leixlip, September 5th, 1770.
With down-cast Look, and pitying Eye,
Unarm'd, the King of Terrors stood;
He laid his Sting, and Horrors by,
Averse to strike the Fair and Good:
Unarm'd, the King of Terrors stood;
He laid his Sting, and Horrors by,
Averse to strike the Fair and Good:
When, thus, an Angel urg'd the Blow—
No more thy lifted Hand suspend!
To conscious Guilt a dreaded Foe;
To Innocence a welcome Friend.
No more thy lifted Hand suspend!
To conscious Guilt a dreaded Foe;
To Innocence a welcome Friend.
Bright Hosts of Cherubs round her stand;
To her, and me, confess'd alone;
Each waving his celestial Hand,
And pointing to th'eternal Throne.
To her, and me, confess'd alone;
Each waving his celestial Hand,
And pointing to th'eternal Throne.
The Angel spoke—Nor Husband dear,
Nor Children lov'd, a mournful Train,
Could from her Eye attract one Tear,
Nor bend one Thought to Earth again.
Nor Children lov'd, a mournful Train,
Could from her Eye attract one Tear,
Nor bend one Thought to Earth again.
40
The Soul, impatient of Delay,
No more could mortal Fetters bind,
But, springing to the Realms of Day,
Leaves every human Care behind.
No more could mortal Fetters bind,
But, springing to the Realms of Day,
Leaves every human Care behind.
Yet shall an Infant-Daughter's Claim
Demand from Heaven thy guardian Care:
Protect that lovely, helpless Frame;
And guard that Breast you form'd so fair!
Demand from Heaven thy guardian Care:
Protect that lovely, helpless Frame;
And guard that Breast you form'd so fair!
A Parent's Loss, unknown, unwept,
Thoughtless, the fatal Hour she pass'd;
Or, only thought her Mother slept;
Nor knew how long that Sleep must last.
Thoughtless, the fatal Hour she pass'd;
Or, only thought her Mother slept;
Nor knew how long that Sleep must last.
When Time th'unfolding Mind displays,
May she, by thy Example led,
Fly from that motley, giddy Maze,
Which Youth, and Guilt, and Folly tread!
May she, by thy Example led,
Fly from that motley, giddy Maze,
Which Youth, and Guilt, and Folly tread!
These never knew the guiding Hand,
Which leads to Virtue's arduous Way:
Mothers, now, join the vagrant Band;
And teach their Children how to stray.
Which leads to Virtue's arduous Way:
Mothers, now, join the vagrant Band;
And teach their Children how to stray.
Her shall the pious Task engage,
Such once was thine, with lenient Aid,
A Father's Sorrows to assuage,
His Love with equal Love repaid.
Such once was thine, with lenient Aid,
A Father's Sorrows to assuage,
His Love with equal Love repaid.
So shall she read, with ardent Eye,
This Lesson thy last Moments give,
“They, who, like thee, would fearless die,
“Spotless, like thee, must learn to live.”
This Lesson thy last Moments give,
“They, who, like thee, would fearless die,
“Spotless, like thee, must learn to live.”
| The Shamrock | |