 | Miscellanies in Verse and Prose |  |
276
LETTERS ON Several Occasions.
277
[In vain we reach at Joys; in vain]
To Mr. D---
London, February 12, 1717.
279
Thro' Labours struggle to Renown;
Soon as the hop'd-for Good we gain,
And call the flying Bliss our own,
The with'ring Hand of cruel Fate
Throws all the brittle Building down,
And cuts the Thread of Life, and closes up our Date!
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And idly vaunts his Span of Years;
Then yields to Heav'n the wand'ring Breath it gave,
And silent wastes, forgotten in the Grave!
So the gay Flow'rs, that on the bloomy Plain
Blush in their Morning Pride around,
At Noon, with sudden Show'rs of Rain,
Are wash'd away, and scatter'd on the Ground.
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[From ev'ry Quarter of the Sky]
To Mr. D---
London, June 3, 1718.
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From ev'ry Quarter of the Sky,
Angelic Bow'r and blest Abode,
Ye awful Hosts, who dwell on high,
Assemble to the Throne of God.
Angelic Bow'r and blest Abode,
Ye awful Hosts, who dwell on high,
Assemble to the Throne of God.
Thither, ye Cherubim, who guide
The measur'd Motion of the Stars,
And o'er the glittering Orbs preside,
Informing the revolving Spheres;
The measur'd Motion of the Stars,
And o'er the glittering Orbs preside,
Informing the revolving Spheres;
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Who on the num'rous Worlds around
Pour down, from blazing Suns, the Day,
In all your Pomp of Glory crown'd,
With prompt Obedience wing your Way.
Pour down, from blazing Suns, the Day,
In all your Pomp of Glory crown'd,
With prompt Obedience wing your Way.
To your Creator's Name inspire
The Song; and with melodious Noise,
The Harp, and Sweetness of the Lyre
Touch skilfully, and give them Voice.
The Song; and with melodious Noise,
The Harp, and Sweetness of the Lyre
Touch skilfully, and give them Voice.
Let the deep Organ utter round
Its swelling Notes, and waken Joy;
And the clear Trumpet's Princely Sound
Break loudly forth, and fill the Sky.
Its swelling Notes, and waken Joy;
And the clear Trumpet's Princely Sound
Break loudly forth, and fill the Sky.
And let the bright Arch-Angel raise
The pealing Symphony Divine;
And in th'Abundance of his Praise,
Your Choral Voices gladly join.
The pealing Symphony Divine;
And in th'Abundance of his Praise,
Your Choral Voices gladly join.
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[Life, like a Vision, glides away]
[_]
ADVERTISEMENT.
The following Letter was writ in Answer to one received from a Friend, pressing the Author to finish several imperfect Poems, in which were these Lines;
With nimble Wings, and will not stay;
Then let us snatch the passing Hour,
And wisely use our utmost Pow'r,
Friendship's prevailing Charm to prove,
And leave some Traces of our Love;
That when grim Death shall seize his Prize,
And Unrelenting close our Eyes,
Our Friends with chearful Voice may say;
“Thou shalt not wholly Fate obey;
“Thy better Part is left behind,
“The Picture of thy living Mind!
290
[When from the Lustre of the Light]
To Mr. D---
When from the Lustre of the Light,
My swimming Eyes shall close in Night,
And Earth's dank Bosom shall receive
The breathless Relicks that I leave;
My Soul, in Mansions of the Sky,
Shall taste unutter'd Joys on high.
Below, my noiseless, humble Name,
Which neither sought, nor hop'd for Fame,
Shall dwell a while in his dear Breast,
Who has my living Heart possest,
And in a Friend's religious Mind,
The best of Monuments shall find!
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FINIS.
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