Miscellanies in Verse and Prose :: :: University of Virginia Library

Eliza 's shining Character to spread,
And from Oblivion save the pious Dead,
Is the glad Theme my Muse shall here pursue:
The Song is pleasing, and the Virtues true.

Thus to the Fair, whil I attempt to raise
A Monument recordant of her Praise,

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Receive with Candour what the Muse shall sing,
Nor fear these Numbers shou'd Dishonour bring:
Her Virtues, which they faithfully rehearse,
Shall give them Life, and dignify the Verse;
The great Original shall save the Draught,
Which to the Pattern is so strictly wrought.

When first we saw her tender Life display
Its op'ning Beams, and signify the Day,
So bright she shone with ev'ry pleasing Grace,
Exact in Form and Symmetry of Face;
Such were the high Endowments of her Mind,
(To Reason's Rule, her Passions still resign'd,)
Heav'n, we believ'd, with merciful Intent,
This finish'd Pattern to the World had sent,
By mild Example sweetly to prevail,
While rigid Lessons of dry Morals fail.

But at her early Fate our Hopes decay,
Light as a Vision at the dawning Day;
And all the pleasing Prospect dies away.
Struck with her Loss, we feel augmented Woe;
New Sighs proceed, and Tears abundant flow.
Yet shall it yield our Sorrows some Relief,
Keen as they are, and lenify our Grief;
Her various Virtues to review, and show,
That all their Number and Degree may know.
And, zealous of her Fame, the Muse shall strive
T'embalm her Memory, and make it live.

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And it shall live, if I have tuneful Lays
To build the Noble Column of her Praise.
O! that while thus her Goodness we declare,
The Beauties of a Character so fair,
With pious Heat the Living may inspire,
And with a Zeal of Emulation fire!

The Holy Flames of Love Divine possest
Her happy Soul, and purify'd her Breast.
Glad her Devotion, genuine and strong;
It thought no Offices of Worship long.
And, as She was with copious Favours crown'd,
She did in fervent Gratitude abound;
Observing duteously to Praise and Pray,
('Tis all to God we can for Mercies pay.)
As, duly when the Close of Day return'd,
Rich Clouds of Incense in the Temple burn'd,
And cast a fragrant Odour to the Skies,
The Lord's Munificence to recognize:
So for the Blessings which the Day had giv'n,
Her Thanks, at Ev'ning, she address'd to Heav'n:
Not slightly, with Irrev'rence, hasten'd o'er,
As droning Monks their measur'd Vespers score,
But with an awful Mind and chearful Voice;
She in th'Imployment did so far rejoice,
It was not Duty, but Delight and Choice.

When smoothly in Prosperity we reign,
We soon grow wanton, and the Heart is vain.

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In gratitude and Pride corrupt the Mind;
Full of our selves, and scorning of our Kind;
Careless of Heav'n we independent live,
And rather claim his Goodness, than receive:
Till, by Affliction chasten'd, we begin
To see our Folly, and forsake our Sin;
And wholesome Suff'ring, graciously design'd,
Dispells this gay Intemperance of Mind.

But She so strict a Vigilance maintain'd,
That Pleasures from her no Advantage gain'd:
She tasted soberly the tempting Draught;
And arm'd with holy Jealousy her Thought.
What was there worth her ardent Love below?
A Scene of Guilt, and of o'erwhelming Woe;
Imperfect Comforts, transitory Bliss,
A lonely Waste, and howling Wilderness!
The gaudy Pomps of Life, and sensual Joy,
Cou'd not a Mind so Spiritual employ:
Nor wou'd She so unwise a Bargain drive,
(Sure of the Bliss, Eternity shall give,)
To barter Heav'n for what this World can own;
Or put to Hazard an Immortal Crown.

Her pure Religion was not vainly plac'd
In outward Show, nor haughtily debas'd
With Confidence of Merit; but the Whole
Was real Adoration of the Soul.
Nor rudely, with the Blemish'd, or the Lame,
Before th'Almighty Majesty She came;

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But offer'd up the best, and cull'd her Stock;
Like Abel's Choice, the fairest of the Flock;
A perfect Sacrifice, sincerely giv'n;
A pleasing Odour, and receiv'd of Heav'n.

The vain Applause of Men She still declin'd;
Content that God approv'd, who saw the Mind:
For Men can only view th'external Part;
But God the Spirit trys, and weighs the Heart.

Attest, Ye flaming Seraphim above,
Her holy Zeal, the Raptures of her Love;
(As far as 'tis permitted You to know
The State and Virtues of the Saints below,)
Her various Graces, active Piety;
By which prepar'd, and fitted for the Sky,
When She had finish'd her appointed Race,
In your bright Mansions She receiv'd a Place;
Where now She joins, with all th'illustrious Throng,
Before the Throne Divine, in your triumphant Song.

Compassion of the Poor so fill'd her Heart,
That in their Wants She seem'd to bear a Part:
Griev'd at the Cares, She saw them undergo:
Yet pleas'd that She was able to bestow.
No Importunity was needful here;
No Fav'rite Friend to recommend a Pray'r;
Distress itself was Merit, and prevail'd;
The Wretched never su'd to Her, and sail'd.
So freely she dispens'd, so largely gave,
As if dispersing were the Way to save:

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She gave, and gain'd; for all the Good she wrought,
Th'exerted Action, or intended Thought,
The Seeds she sow'd, with large Increase shall rise,
In a rich Harvest of Cœlestial Joys.

Tho' frequent were her Alms, her humble Soul
No Trumpet sounded when She made the Dole;
But generously abhorr'd the sordid Aim
Of Worldly Honour, and an Earthly Fame.
Her plenteous Benefits in Silence fell;
As gentle Dews in quiet Night distill.
When her mild Lord, in Majesty array'd,
With his own Glory and the Father's clad,
Shall at the last important Day appear,
To doom the Sinner, and the Just to clear;
From all her pious Acts he'll draw the Veil,
Which She endeavour'd meekly to conceal.

Bright Scenes of Glory, and Eternal Joy,
Thy raptur'd Soul in Paradise employ;
Where no Vicissitudes affect thy Bliss;
Nor Fear of Ill impairs thy Happiness.
'Tis Exultation all: and when the Hour,
Fulfill'd, arrives, whole Nature to restore;
When the firm Pillars of the Sky shall fall;
And searching Fires consume this Earthly Ball;
When the purg'd Elements, together hurl'd,
Shall mix anew, to build a better World;
The Body, which the deathless Soul inclos'd,
The precious Pledge that is in Earth depos'd,

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Wak'd from the faithful Grave, again shall rise,
Made pure, and capable of endless Joys.
That which was laid with Grief and Anguish down,
In Pain and Weakness and Corruption sown,
Reviv'd in Grace and Energy divine,
Shall with thy Saviour's Heavenly Image shine.

Thus to the Sight, in Ev'ning Shades the Sun
Extinguish'd, sinks with wasted Lustre down;
But chearly in the Morn renews his way,
Flames out again, and with his Orient Ray,
Throws on the World regenerated Day!

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