University of Virginia Library

Thanks for thy letter, best of friends!
On it my life of life depends.
Fair moralizer! whose warm heart
May balm to any mind impart;
I gaze enraptur'd on each line,
Where wisdom shews in truths divine
The dang'rous path, the wily snare,
That still mislead, that cause each care;
The pois'ners of man's purest joy,
That wealth, and health, and life destroy.
Dear beauteous comforter! whose smiles
Ev'n sorrow of her sting beguiles,
Whate'er thro' life my fate may be,
My grateful thanks are due to thee;
And till this pulse shall cease to beat,
Thy name with ardour I'll repeat;
Delighted, ever, to peruse
Thy favors, fav'rite of the Muse!

208

To thee, this humble verse I pour,
The musing of a midnight hour;
Weak flows the lay, my friend must own,
For youth and fancy now are flown;
I mark life's autumn, overcast,
Whilst mem'ry pauses on the past:
Truth holds her mirror to my view,
And bids me virtue still pursue.