The American common-place book of poetry with occasional notes |
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To****, on the Death of a Friend.—Andrews Norton.
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 | The American common-place book of poetry |  |
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To****, on the Death of a Friend.—Andrews Norton.
O stay thy tears; for they are blessed,
Whose days are passed, whose toil is done;
Here midnight care disturbs our rest,
Here sorrow dims the noon-day sun.
Whose days are passed, whose toil is done;
Here midnight care disturbs our rest,
Here sorrow dims the noon-day sun.
For laboring virtue's anxious toil,
For patient sorrow's stifled sigh,
For faith that marks the conqueror's spoil,
Heaven grants the recompense, to die.
For patient sorrow's stifled sigh,
For faith that marks the conqueror's spoil,
Heaven grants the recompense, to die.
How blessed are they, whose transient years
Pass like an evening meteor's flight;
Not dark with guilt, nor dim with tears;
Whose course is short, unclouded, bright.
Pass like an evening meteor's flight;
Not dark with guilt, nor dim with tears;
Whose course is short, unclouded, bright.
O cheerless were our lengthened way;
But heaven's own light dispels the gloom,
Streams downward from eternal day,
And casts a glory round the tomb.
But heaven's own light dispels the gloom,
Streams downward from eternal day,
And casts a glory round the tomb.
Then stay thy tears; the blessed above
Have hailed a spirit's heavenly birth,
Sung a new song of joy and love;
And why should anguish reign on earth?
Have hailed a spirit's heavenly birth,
Sung a new song of joy and love;
And why should anguish reign on earth?
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