The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson ... for the first time fully collected and compared with the original and early editions ... edited ... by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart ... with portrait, illustrations, &c |
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 | The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson |  |
VERSES TO THE MEMORY OF AN ENGAGING YOUTH,
UNCOMMONLY ATTACHED TO LEARNING.
Here, stranger! pause, and sadly o'er this stone,
A moment ponder on the deeds of Fate:
Snatch'd hence in blooming youth, here moulders one,
Whose life seem'd worthy of a longer date.
A moment ponder on the deeds of Fate:
Snatch'd hence in blooming youth, here moulders one,
Whose life seem'd worthy of a longer date.
Mild was his temper, and his soul serene;
Truth warm'd his breast, and dwelt upon his tongue;
Oft would he wander from the noisy scene,
To list, while Virgil or bold Homer sung.
Truth warm'd his breast, and dwelt upon his tongue;
Oft would he wander from the noisy scene,
To list, while Virgil or bold Homer sung.
224
With such a son, what was his parents' joy?
No thought can reach it, nor no tongue can tell;
Nor paint their anguish when the lovely boy,
By death assaulted, pale and lifeless fell.
No thought can reach it, nor no tongue can tell;
Nor paint their anguish when the lovely boy,
By death assaulted, pale and lifeless fell.
Yet they submit to Heav'n's wise-acting pow'r,
And think, O reader! as thou tread'st this sod;
He once like thee, enjoy'd Life's glitt'ring hour,
Thou soon like him must pass Death's gloomy road.
And think, O reader! as thou tread'st this sod;
He once like thee, enjoy'd Life's glitt'ring hour,
Thou soon like him must pass Death's gloomy road.
| The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson | |