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Poems by the Late Reverend Dr. Thomas Blacklock

Together with an Essay on the Education of the Blind. To Which is Prefixed A New Account of the Life and Writings of the Author

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EPISTLE III.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

EPISTLE III.

To Mise Annie Rae: With the Manual of Epictetus, and Tablature of Cebes.
Go, happy leaves! to Anna's view disclose
What solid joy from real virtue flows;
When, like the world, self-pois'd, th' exalted soul,
Unshaken, scorns the storms that round her roll;
And, in herself collected, joys to find
Th' untainted image of th' Eternal Mind.
To bid mankind their end supreme pursue,
On God and nature fix their wand'ring view;
To teach reluctant passion to obey,
Check'd, or impell'd by reason's awful sway;
From films of error purge the mental eye,
Till undissembled good in prospect lie;
The soul with heav'n-born virtue to inflame:
Such was the Stoic's and Socratic's aim.

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O! could they view from yon immortal scene,
Where beauty, truth and good, unclouded, reign,
Fair hands like thine revolve their labour'd page,
Imbibe their truth, and in their task engage;
With rapture would they hail so fair a sight,
And feel new bliss in heav'n's supreme delight.