Tancred A Tale; And Other Poems. By the Author of Conrad, A Tragedy [i.e. Alfred Bunn] |
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TO THE MEMORY
OF
THE REV. HENRY ARNOLD,
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TO THE MEMORY OF THE REV. HENRY ARNOLD,
LATE VICAR OF LONGSTOCK, HANTS.
Life's griefs are o'er, the vital spirit fled,The friend we honour'd, lov'd, rever'd, is dead!
Oh! bless'd with virtues dignified and rare,
Thy soul is freed from ev'ry earthly care,
And reaps the bright rewards profusely given
To those who place their dearest hopes in Heaven.
'Mid pains intense, 'mid agony severe,
To other's woes thou gav'st the ready tear;
By fortune crost, by enemies opprest,
No selfish feeling clos'd thy generous breast,
But was thy lib'ral hand stretch'd forth to bless,
And soothe each fellow-creature in distress;
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The rich have shar'd the treasures of thy mind;
Thou gav'st them councils of intrinsic worth,
Or brighten'd social hours with smiling mirth.
Oh, may thy lessons ever be impress'd,
Engraven deep upon this sorrowing breast,
Whose painful task it is to number o'er
Thy numerous virtues, and their loss deplore.
Pain seiz'd thy frame, but never held controul
Within thy pious, firm, undaunted soul;
Amid its cruel ravages, serene
Thou bore its tortures with unruffled mien,
And taught by grief and anguish unsubdued,
A christian's faith, a christian's fortitude!
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