 | Poems (1905) |  |
439
ON THE DEATH OF SIR SAMUEL ROMILLY.
(Hampstead, November 6, 1818.)
“Thus had I written—so a friend advised,
“Whom as the first of counsellors I prized;
“The best of guides to my assuming pen,
“The best of fathers, husbands, judges, men.
“‘This will he read,’ I said, ‘and I shall hear
“‘Opinion wise, instructive, mild, sincere;
“‘For I that mind respect, for I the man revere.’
“Whom as the first of counsellors I prized;
“The best of guides to my assuming pen,
“The best of fathers, husbands, judges, men.
“‘This will he read,’ I said, ‘and I shall hear
“‘Opinion wise, instructive, mild, sincere;
“‘For I that mind respect, for I the man revere.’
“I had no boding fear, but thought to see
“Those who were thine, who look'd for all to thee;
“And thou wert all! there was, when thou wert by,
“Diffused around the rare felicity
“That wisdom, worth, and kindness can impart,
“To form the mind and gratify the heart.
“Those who were thine, who look'd for all to thee;
“And thou wert all! there was, when thou wert by,
“Diffused around the rare felicity
“That wisdom, worth, and kindness can impart,
“To form the mind and gratify the heart.
“Yes! I was proud to speak of thee as one
“Who had approved the little I had done,
“And taught me what I should do!—Thou wouldst raise
“My doubting spirit by a smile of praise
“And words of comfort! great was thy delight
“Fear to expel, and ardour to excite,
“To wrest th' oppressor's arm, and do the injured right.
“Who had approved the little I had done,
“And taught me what I should do!—Thou wouldst raise
“My doubting spirit by a smile of praise
“And words of comfort! great was thy delight
“Fear to expel, and ardour to excite,
“To wrest th' oppressor's arm, and do the injured right.
“Thou hadst the tear for pity, and thy breast
“Felt for the sad, the weary, the oppress'd!
“And now, afflicting change! all join with me,
“And feel, lamented Romilly, for thee.”
“Felt for the sad, the weary, the oppress'd!
“And now, afflicting change! all join with me,
“And feel, lamented Romilly, for thee.”
| Poems (1905) | |