 | Poems on several grave and important subjects (1719) |  |
To my ingenious Friend, Mr. MITCHELL,
On his Mournful Poems Occasion'd by his Brother's Death.
Hail heav'nly Muse! that with unbounded Fancy,
And Wit unknown to vulgar Bards, describes
The Charms of Friendship, and the cutting Pangs
Of Separation, which thy Soul has felt.
Souls great as thine can only court, and taste
Th' exalted Sweets of virtuous Love and Friendship.
Others perhaps may feel their Bosoms glow,
With that Affection which is natural,
To these whom chance at random join'd together.
A raging Fire to Womankind may burn
The Minds of others in a guilty Blaze;
But you, and such of a more noble Mould,
Count Life a Burthen, while you want a Friend
T'enhanse your Joys, to sooth your anxious Mind,
And sympathize in all your cutting Sorrows.
And Wit unknown to vulgar Bards, describes
The Charms of Friendship, and the cutting Pangs
Of Separation, which thy Soul has felt.
Souls great as thine can only court, and taste
Th' exalted Sweets of virtuous Love and Friendship.
Others perhaps may feel their Bosoms glow,
With that Affection which is natural,
To these whom chance at random join'd together.
A raging Fire to Womankind may burn
The Minds of others in a guilty Blaze;
Count Life a Burthen, while you want a Friend
T'enhanse your Joys, to sooth your anxious Mind,
And sympathize in all your cutting Sorrows.
In your young Brother lately rais'd to Heav'n,
You had a Friend by double Bonds made yours:
In you he liv'd, with yours his Soul was mixt,
As meeting Streams that flow promiscuous on.
The Road of Life you walked Hand in Hand;
One your Desires and your Aversions were:
Nought pleas'd the One, but what the other pleas'd.
Nor could Affliction seize you and not him:
Your Foes were his, and his were yours declar'd;
As if for one another you were born.
Now he by Death, relentless Death is seiz'd,
And from your Heart, where he was rooted well,
Torn with tormenting Violence away;
None but your self can the true Idea form
Of these smart Twinges which your Soul endures:
You only can your present Pangs declare,
And open all the dreadful Wound to view.
You had a Friend by double Bonds made yours:
In you he liv'd, with yours his Soul was mixt,
As meeting Streams that flow promiscuous on.
The Road of Life you walked Hand in Hand;
One your Desires and your Aversions were:
Nought pleas'd the One, but what the other pleas'd.
Nor could Affliction seize you and not him:
Your Foes were his, and his were yours declar'd;
As if for one another you were born.
Now he by Death, relentless Death is seiz'd,
And from your Heart, where he was rooted well,
Torn with tormenting Violence away;
None but your self can the true Idea form
Of these smart Twinges which your Soul endures:
You only can your present Pangs declare,
And open all the dreadful Wound to view.
'Tis done.—Your Muse in her immortal Strains
Has sung the Charms of former Friendship well,
And in true Light the present Rack you suffer
To our Amazement represented here.
Methinks I suffer with you as I read
Your Lines, where Nature speaks with moving Words.
So lively all your Passion is describ'd,
I seem to share it, and approve your Woe.
Strange is the Pow'r of an inspired Pen;
It conquers me in Spite of my Endeavours:
When, undesigning, you engage the Heart,
What Energy is in your artful Lays?
If in your Melancholy State you charm,
How beautiful and ravishing your Song,
Where Art with Nature gloriously conspires?
Has sung the Charms of former Friendship well,
And in true Light the present Rack you suffer
To our Amazement represented here.
Methinks I suffer with you as I read
Your Lines, where Nature speaks with moving Words.
So lively all your Passion is describ'd,
I seem to share it, and approve your Woe.
Strange is the Pow'r of an inspired Pen;
It conquers me in Spite of my Endeavours:
When, undesigning, you engage the Heart,
What Energy is in your artful Lays?
If in your Melancholy State you charm,
How beautiful and ravishing your Song,
Where Art with Nature gloriously conspires?
J. W.
| Poems on several grave and important subjects (1719) | |