Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell ... To which are added Poems on Several Occasions, Published in his Life-Time |
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On the Death of Mr. Hawtrey.
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 | Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell |  |
53
On the Death of Mr. Hawtrey.
As when the King of Peace and Lord of Love
Sends down some brighter Angel from Above,
Pleas'd with the Beauties of the heav'nly Guest,
A while we view him, in full Glory drest;
But he, impatient from his Heav'n to stay,
Soon disappears, and wings his airy Way:
So did'st thou vanish, eager to appear,
And shine triumphant in thy Native Sphere.
Sends down some brighter Angel from Above,
Pleas'd with the Beauties of the heav'nly Guest,
A while we view him, in full Glory drest;
But he, impatient from his Heav'n to stay,
Soon disappears, and wings his airy Way:
So did'st thou vanish, eager to appear,
And shine triumphant in thy Native Sphere.
Yet had'st thou all that Virtue can bestow,
What the Good practise, and the Learned know,
All that the Soul to Extasy inspires,
When lost in Love she pleasantly retires,
Such Transports as those heav'nly Mortals share,
Who know not whether they are mounted there,
Or have brought Heav'n to meet them in a Pray'r.
What the Good practise, and the Learned know,
All that the Soul to Extasy inspires,
When lost in Love she pleasantly retires,
Such Transports as those heav'nly Mortals share,
Who know not whether they are mounted there,
Or have brought Heav'n to meet them in a Pray'r.
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How shall I praise? How make thy Virtues known,
By every Tongue commended but thy own?
Strong were thy Thoughts, yet Reason bore the Sway
Humble, yet Learn'd; tho' Innocent, yet Gay:
All Autumn's Riches in thy Spring were found,
And blooming Youth with Hoary Wisdom crown'd;
Yet tho' so fair thy Flow'r of Life began,
It wither'd e'er it ripen'd into Man.
By every Tongue commended but thy own?
Strong were thy Thoughts, yet Reason bore the Sway
Humble, yet Learn'd; tho' Innocent, yet Gay:
All Autumn's Riches in thy Spring were found,
And blooming Youth with Hoary Wisdom crown'd;
Yet tho' so fair thy Flow'r of Life began,
It wither'd e'er it ripen'd into Man.
Thus in the Theatre the Scenes unfold
A thousand Wonders glorious to behold;
And here or there, as the Machine extends,
A Heroe rises, or a God descends;
But soon the momentary Pleasure flies,
And the gay Scenes are ravish'd from our Eyes.
A thousand Wonders glorious to behold;
And here or there, as the Machine extends,
A Heroe rises, or a God descends;
But soon the momentary Pleasure flies,
And the gay Scenes are ravish'd from our Eyes.
Ye Sacred Doors, his frequent Visits tell,
Thou Court where God himself delights to dwell;
Thou Mystick Table, and thou Holy Feast,
How often have you seen the Sacred Guest?
How oft his Soul with Heavenly Manna fed,
His Faith enliven'd, while his Sin lay Dead?
O may the Thought his Friend's Devotion raise!
O may he Imitate as well as Praise!
Awake, my heavy Soul, and upward fly,
Speak to the Saint, and meet him in the Sky,
And ask the certain Way to rise as High!
Thou Court where God himself delights to dwell;
Thou Mystick Table, and thou Holy Feast,
How often have you seen the Sacred Guest?
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His Faith enliven'd, while his Sin lay Dead?
O may the Thought his Friend's Devotion raise!
O may he Imitate as well as Praise!
Awake, my heavy Soul, and upward fly,
Speak to the Saint, and meet him in the Sky,
And ask the certain Way to rise as High!
| Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell | |