 | Poems (1806) |  |
162
IN MEMORY OF THE LATE Mr. RACK, OF BATH.
Go, then, benignant spirit, go,
And with congenial spirits rest;
Escap'd from every earthly woe,
By Friendship's holiest wishes blest.
And with congenial spirits rest;
Escap'd from every earthly woe,
By Friendship's holiest wishes blest.
Merit, though snatch'd from mortal eye,
Lives to Affection's memory dear;
And worth like thine shall claim a sigh,
From all who knew thee claim a tear.
Lives to Affection's memory dear;
And worth like thine shall claim a sigh,
From all who knew thee claim a tear.
How often with delight I trace
Thy varied life,—an active scene;
Or mark the friend of human race
In sickness and in death serene!
Thy varied life,—an active scene;
Or mark the friend of human race
In sickness and in death serene!
Though in thy humble birth was found
No flattering hope of future fame,
And circumscrib'd in narrow bound,
The hamlet only knew thy name.
No flattering hope of future fame,
And circumscrib'd in narrow bound,
The hamlet only knew thy name.
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Yet what can circumscribe the soul?
Soon with a spirited disdain
Thy genius spurn'd the base controul
Of fickle Fortune's galling chain.
Soon with a spirited disdain
Thy genius spurn'd the base controul
Of fickle Fortune's galling chain.
Untutor'd in the classic school,
Thy native sense could yet convey
To wandering youth each moral rule,
And guide them in the doubtful way.
Thy native sense could yet convey
To wandering youth each moral rule,
And guide them in the doubtful way.
Once too thy breast the favouring Muse
Saw with ambitious ardor warm;
But soon she bade her faery views
Cheat thy fond eye with fleeting charm.
Saw with ambitious ardor warm;
But soon she bade her faery views
Cheat thy fond eye with fleeting charm.
And was the bright poetic bay
No longer to thy brows decreed?
Behold thy labours to repay,
The wreath of truth thy nobler meed!
No longer to thy brows decreed?
Behold thy labours to repay,
The wreath of truth thy nobler meed!
To spread each salutary art,
By liberal plans with skill design'd,
And in historic strain impart
Some fresh instruction to the mind.
By liberal plans with skill design'd,
And in historic strain impart
Some fresh instruction to the mind.
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These were thy aims—on these shall fame
Thy beautiful memorial raise,
And gratitude diffuse her flame
Through many a heart in future days.
Thy beautiful memorial raise,
And gratitude diffuse her flame
Through many a heart in future days.
And often, as her steps retire
Far from a world of pomp and strife,
Religion shall herself admire
That evening mild which clos'd thy life.
Far from a world of pomp and strife,
Religion shall herself admire
That evening mild which clos'd thy life.
Thy virtues, where thy relicks sleep,
Shall hover in the silent air;
And meek Simplicity shall weep
Thy gentle manners, lingering there.
Shall hover in the silent air;
And meek Simplicity shall weep
Thy gentle manners, lingering there.
And there, while veil'd in lucid white,
Her bosom shall incessant heave;
Shall young Sincerity delight
To deck her Mentor's honour'd grave.
Her bosom shall incessant heave;
Shall young Sincerity delight
To deck her Mentor's honour'd grave.
P.
| Poems (1806) | |