The Poetical Works of John Langhorne ... To which are prefixed, Memoirs of the Author by his Son the Rev. J. T. Langhorne ... In Two Volumes |
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TO MISS CRACROFT. |
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 | The Poetical Works of John Langhorne |  |
114
TO MISS CRACROFT.
1763.
When pale beneath the frowning shade of death,
No soothing voice of love, or friendship nigh,
While strong convulsions seiz'd the lab'ring breath,
And life suspended left each vacant eye;
No soothing voice of love, or friendship nigh,
While strong convulsions seiz'd the lab'ring breath,
And life suspended left each vacant eye;
Where, in that moment, fled th' immortal mind?
To what new region did the spirit stray?
Found it some bosom hospitably kind,
Some breast that took the wanderer in its way?
To what new region did the spirit stray?
Found it some bosom hospitably kind,
Some breast that took the wanderer in its way?
To thee, my Nancy, in that deathful hour,
To thy dear bosom it once more return'd;
And wrapt in Hackthorn's solitary bower,
The ruins of its former mansion mourn'd.
To thy dear bosom it once more return'd;
And wrapt in Hackthorn's solitary bower,
The ruins of its former mansion mourn'd.
But, didst thou, kind and gentle as thou art,
O'er thy pale lover shed the generous tear?
From those sweet eyes did Pity's softness start,
When Fancy laid him on the lowly bier?
O'er thy pale lover shed the generous tear?
From those sweet eyes did Pity's softness start,
When Fancy laid him on the lowly bier?
Didst thou to Heaven address the forceful prayer,
Fold thy fair hands, and raise the mournful eye,
Implore each power benevolent to spare,
And call down pity from the golden sky?
Fold thy fair hands, and raise the mournful eye,
Implore each power benevolent to spare,
And call down pity from the golden sky?
115
O born at once to bless me and to save,
Exalt my life, and dignify my lay!
Thou too shalt triumph o'er the mouldering grave,
And on thy brow shall bloom the deathless bay.
Exalt my life, and dignify my lay!
Thou too shalt triumph o'er the mouldering grave,
And on thy brow shall bloom the deathless bay.
Dear shades of genius! heirs of endless fame!
That in your laureate crowns the myrtle wove,
Snatch'd from oblivion Beauty's sacred name,
And grew immortal in the arms of Love!
That in your laureate crowns the myrtle wove,
Snatch'd from oblivion Beauty's sacred name,
And grew immortal in the arms of Love!
O may we meet you in some happier clime,
Some safer vale beneath a genial sky;
Whence all the woes that load the wing of time,
Disease, and death, and fear, and frailty fly!
Some safer vale beneath a genial sky;
Whence all the woes that load the wing of time,
Disease, and death, and fear, and frailty fly!
| The Poetical Works of John Langhorne | |