The works of Allan Ramsay edited by Burns Martin ... and John W. Oliver [... and Alexander M. Kinghorn ... and Alexander Law] |
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To the Honourable Sir John Clerk of Pennycuik
Baronet, one of the Barons of Exchequer, on the Death of his most accomplished Son John
Clerk Esq; who died the 20th Year of his Age.
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 | The works of Allan Ramsay |  |
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To the Honourable Sir John Clerk of Pennycuik Baronet, one of the Barons of Exchequer, on the Death of his most accomplished Son John Clerk Esq; who died the 20th Year of his Age.
If Tears can ever be a Duty found,
'Tis when the Deaths of dear Relations wound;
Then you must weep, you have too just a Ground.
'Tis when the Deaths of dear Relations wound;
Then you must weep, you have too just a Ground.
A Son whom all the Good and Wise admir'd,
Shining with ev'ry Grace to be desir'd;
Rais'd high your joyful Hopes, and then retir'd.
Shining with ev'ry Grace to be desir'd;
Rais'd high your joyful Hopes, and then retir'd.
Nature must yield, when such a weighty Load
Rouzes the Passions, and makes Reason nod:
But who may contradict the Will of GOD!
Rouzes the Passions, and makes Reason nod:
But who may contradict the Will of GOD!
By his great Author, Man was sent below,
Some Things to learn, great Pains to undergo,
To fit him for what further he's to know.
Some Things to learn, great Pains to undergo,
To fit him for what further he's to know.
This End obtain'd, without regarding Time,
He calls the Soul home to its native Clime,
To Happiness and Knowledge more sublime.
He calls the Soul home to its native Clime,
To Happiness and Knowledge more sublime.
Thus some in Youth like Eagles mount the Steep,
Which leads to Man, and fathom Learning's Deep;
Others thro' Age with reptile Motion creep.
Which leads to Man, and fathom Learning's Deep;
Others thro' Age with reptile Motion creep.
Like lazy Streams which fill the Fenny Strand,
In muddy Pools they long unactive stand,
Till spent in Vapour, or immers'd in Sand.
In muddy Pools they long unactive stand,
Till spent in Vapour, or immers'd in Sand.
But down its flinty Channel, without Stain,
The Mountain Rill flows eagerly to gain,
With a full Tide, its Origine the Main.
The Mountain Rill flows eagerly to gain,
With a full Tide, its Origine the Main.
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Thus your lov'd Youth, whose bright aspiring Mind
Could not to lazy Minutes be confin'd,
Sail'd down the Stream of Life before the Wind.
Could not to lazy Minutes be confin'd,
Sail'd down the Stream of Life before the Wind.
Perform'd the Task of Man, so well, so soon,
He reach'd the Sea of Bliss before his Noon,
And to his Memory lasting Laurels won.
He reach'd the Sea of Bliss before his Noon,
And to his Memory lasting Laurels won.
When Life's tempestuous Billows ceas'd to rore,
And e'er his broken Vessel was no more,
His Soul serenely view'd the heavenly Shore.
And e'er his broken Vessel was no more,
His Soul serenely view'd the heavenly Shore.
Bravely resign'd, obeying Fate's Command,
He fix'd his Eyes on the immortal Land,
Where crowding Seraphs reach'd him out the Hand.
He fix'd his Eyes on the immortal Land,
Where crowding Seraphs reach'd him out the Hand.
SOUTHESKA's smiling Cherub
first appear'd,
With GARLIES' Consort , who vast Pleasures shar'd,
Conducting him where Vertue finds Reward.
With GARLIES' Consort , who vast Pleasures shar'd,
Conducting him where Vertue finds Reward.
Think in the World of Sp'rits, with how much Joy
His tender Mother would receive her Boy.
Where Fate no more their Union can destroy.
His tender Mother would receive her Boy.
Where Fate no more their Union can destroy.
His good Grandsire, who lately went to Rest,
How fondly would he grasp him to his Breast,
And welcome him to Regions of the Blest!
How fondly would he grasp him to his Breast,
And welcome him to Regions of the Blest!
From us, 'tis true, his youthful Sweets are gone,
Which may plead for our Weakness, when we moan;
The Loss indeed is ours, he can have none.
Which may plead for our Weakness, when we moan;
The Loss indeed is ours, he can have none.
Thus Sailors with a crazy Vessel crost,
Expecting every Minute to be lost,
With weeping Eyes behold a Sunny Coast.
Expecting every Minute to be lost,
With weeping Eyes behold a Sunny Coast.
Where happy Land-men safely breathe the Air,
Bask in the Sun, or to cool Shades repair,
They longing sigh, and wish themselves were there.
Bask in the Sun, or to cool Shades repair,
They longing sigh, and wish themselves were there.
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But who would after Death to Bliss lay Claim,
Must, like your Son, each vicious Passion tame,
Fly from the Crowd, and at Perfection aim.
Must, like your Son, each vicious Passion tame,
Fly from the Crowd, and at Perfection aim.
Then grieve no more, nor vex your self in vain,
To latest Age the Character maintain
You now possess, you'll find your Son again.
To latest Age the Character maintain
You now possess, you'll find your Son again.
| The works of Allan Ramsay | |