University of Virginia Library


7

ON THE DEATH OF HER GRACE, The Duchess Dowager of PORTLAND.

That sigh's the last! Illustrious spirit fly,
Nor pause, nor “cast one ling'ring look behind.”
The doors of life are clos'd: the harps on high
Vibrating wait till with thy raptures join'd.

8

Upborne on soaring exstasy she dares
Her slight progressive, ting'd with heav'nly rays;
Behold! refulgence on her form appears,
More bright than that which Iris' bow displays.
Beneath her far, wide beds of waters lie,
Distant she sees obedient lightnings bound;
Whole seas of fire strike on her wond'ring eye,
And winds, and thunders, breathe a dying sound.
Celestial beings gliding to and fro,
Hail the fair stranger, and with smile divine,
Point where the dazzling emanations flow
From Deity,—where worlds of glory shine.

9

With angel troops thro' light she roves afar,
And her lov'd Lord with added raptures spies,
Reclin'd in bliss, while seraphs sing the war,
When Heav'ns bright rebel lost his native skies.
The happy spirits, each with transport hail'd,
Both join the seraphim's exalted tone,
Whose beauteous faces, tho' with pinions veil'd,
They ne'er oppose to Great Jehovah's Throne.
Hail, Portland, hail! and should'st thou pause in joy,
In that short moment to my numbers bend;
Time ne'er my strong effusions shall alloy,
My soul exults that thou wert once her friend.
 

Her Grace the Duchess Dowager of Portland subscribed twenty guineas to the Author's first work, and was the only subscriber with whose generosity Mrs. Yearsley was ever made acquainted.