Poems by the late Hon. William R. Spencer A New Edition with Corrections and Additions; To Which is Prefixed A Biographical Memoir by the Editor |
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 | Poems by the late Hon. William R. Spencer |  |
164
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[When the black-letter'd list to the gods was presented]
When the black-letter'd list to the gods was presented,
(The list of what fate for each mortal intends),
At the long string of ills a kind goddess relented,
And slipp'd in three blessings—Wife, Children, and Friends.
(The list of what fate for each mortal intends),
At the long string of ills a kind goddess relented,
And slipp'd in three blessings—Wife, Children, and Friends.
In vain surly Pluto maintain'd he was cheated,
For justice divine could not compass its ends;
The scheme of man's penance he swore was defeated,
For earth becomes heav'n with Wife, Children, and Friends.
For justice divine could not compass its ends;
The scheme of man's penance he swore was defeated,
For earth becomes heav'n with Wife, Children, and Friends.
If the stock of our bliss is in stranger hands vested,
The fund ill-secur'd oft in bankruptcy ends;
But the heart issues bills which are never protested
When drawn on the firm of Wife, Children, and Friends.
The fund ill-secur'd oft in bankruptcy ends;
But the heart issues bills which are never protested
When drawn on the firm of Wife, Children, and Friends.
165
Though valour still glows in his life's waning embers,
The death-wounded tar who his colours defends,
Drops a tear of regret as he dying remembers
How blest was his home with Wife, Children, and Friends.
The death-wounded tar who his colours defends,
Drops a tear of regret as he dying remembers
How blest was his home with Wife, Children, and Friends.
The soldier, whose deeds live immortal in story,
Whom duty to far distant latitudes sends,
With transport would barter whole ages of glory
For one happy day with Wife, Children, and Friends.
Whom duty to far distant latitudes sends,
With transport would barter whole ages of glory
For one happy day with Wife, Children, and Friends.
Though spice-breathing gales o'er his caravan hover,
Though round him Arabia's whole fragrance ascends,
The merchant still thinks of the woodbines that cover
The bower where he sate with Wife, Children, and Friends.
Though round him Arabia's whole fragrance ascends,
The merchant still thinks of the woodbines that cover
The bower where he sate with Wife, Children, and Friends.
The day-spring of youth, still unclouded by sorrow,
Alone on itself for enjoyment depends;
But drear is the twilight of age if it borrow
No warmth from the smiles of Wife, Children, and Friends.
Alone on itself for enjoyment depends;
But drear is the twilight of age if it borrow
No warmth from the smiles of Wife, Children, and Friends.
166
Let the breath of renown ever freshen and nourish
The laurel which o'er her dead favourite bends;
O'er me wave the willow! and long may it flourish,
Bedew'd with the tears of Wife, Children, and Friends.
The laurel which o'er her dead favourite bends;
O'er me wave the willow! and long may it flourish,
Bedew'd with the tears of Wife, Children, and Friends.
Let us drink—for my song, growing graver and gaver,
To subjects too solemn insensibly tends;
Let us drink—pledge me high—Love and Virtue shall flavour
The glass which I fill to Wife, Children, and Friends.
To subjects too solemn insensibly tends;
Let us drink—pledge me high—Love and Virtue shall flavour
The glass which I fill to Wife, Children, and Friends.
| Poems by the late Hon. William R. Spencer | |