 | The miscellaneous works (1739) |  |
On the death of the honourable Mrs. Thynne.
If virtue can immortal honour give,
Thy worth the muse's boasted theme shall live,
But mine's a private, unambitious part,
Where nature dictates, negligent of art:
In shades retir'd, I breathe my secret grief,
And sooth my sorrows, hopeless of relief.
Thy worth the muse's boasted theme shall live,
But mine's a private, unambitious part,
Where nature dictates, negligent of art:
In shades retir'd, I breathe my secret grief,
And sooth my sorrows, hopeless of relief.
O sacred shade! the impious wish forgive,
That fain would have thee yet a mortal live;
That fain would bring thee from celestial joys,
To these wild seats of vanity and noise.
Could tears prevail, how many weeping eyes
Would join with me to tempt thee from the skies!
A just compassion, sure, would touch that mind,
Which here was gentle, and sincerely kind:
The gen'rous disposition reigns above,
Distinguish'd in the peaceful realms of love.
That fain would have thee yet a mortal live;
That fain would bring thee from celestial joys,
To these wild seats of vanity and noise.
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Would join with me to tempt thee from the skies!
A just compassion, sure, would touch that mind,
Which here was gentle, and sincerely kind:
The gen'rous disposition reigns above,
Distinguish'd in the peaceful realms of love.
Would heav'n permit, I could my sorrows paint,
Invoking thee as some protecting saint;
Such warm devotion rises in my breast,
So bright a flame thy virtues have impress'd.
I talk to winds—the happy spirit roves
Thro' lightsome plains, and ever-verdant groves,
Pleas'd with harmonious strains, nor lends an ear
To the ungovern'd language of despair.
Invoking thee as some protecting saint;
Such warm devotion rises in my breast,
So bright a flame thy virtues have impress'd.
I talk to winds—the happy spirit roves
Thro' lightsome plains, and ever-verdant groves,
Pleas'd with harmonious strains, nor lends an ear
To the ungovern'd language of despair.
Yet let my grief the rites of friendship pay,
And weep my sorrows o'er thy breathless clay,
Visit, with just respect, thy silent tomb,
And sooth my anguish in the mournful gloom.
And weep my sorrows o'er thy breathless clay,
Visit, with just respect, thy silent tomb,
And sooth my anguish in the mournful gloom.
O could I hear thy gentle voice again,
Or one short moment's sight of thee obtain;
If but to take a last, a sad adieu—
What vain illusions my wild thoughts pursue!
The shades of death are drawn, perpetual night
For ever hides thee from my longing sight;
Fix'd destiny shall ne'er that bliss restore,
Till earth, and sea, and heav'n shall be no more.
Or one short moment's sight of thee obtain;
If but to take a last, a sad adieu—
What vain illusions my wild thoughts pursue!
The shades of death are drawn, perpetual night
For ever hides thee from my longing sight;
Fix'd destiny shall ne'er that bliss restore,
Till earth, and sea, and heav'n shall be no more.
But, sacred friendship, thy superior flame
Shall time out-live, and be unchang'd the same.
When all the fond relations nature knows,
When all the ties that human laws impose
Are cancell'd; when the mighty league expires,
That holds the universe, when yon gay fires
Have wasted all their glory, thou shalt rise
In triumph o'er the ruins of the skies:
Thy pow'r, immortal friendship, then confest,
Shall fill, with transport, ev'ry heav'nly breast.
Shall time out-live, and be unchang'd the same.
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When all the ties that human laws impose
Are cancell'd; when the mighty league expires,
That holds the universe, when yon gay fires
Have wasted all their glory, thou shalt rise
In triumph o'er the ruins of the skies:
Thy pow'r, immortal friendship, then confest,
Shall fill, with transport, ev'ry heav'nly breast.
| The miscellaneous works (1739) | |