 | The miscellaneous essays and occasional writings of Francis Hopkinson, Esq |  |
10
To THE MEMORY OF Mr. WILLIAM WILLCOCKS,
A BELOVED FRIEND.
Draw near ye youths, in whom soft sorrows dwell,
Whose streaming eyes your heartfelt anguish tell:
Come seek with me the tomb where Pollio lies,
Tears aiding tears, and sighs encreasing sighs!
How great the grief! when genius fall a prey
In early bloom to death's unyielding sway?
When all the prospects of a father's joy,
A mother's fondest wishes for her boy,
One cruel stroke must blast, one cruel stroke destroy.
Let not th' unskilful muse attempt to tell
Thy many virtues, though she knew them well;
She knew thy soul adorn'd with ev'ry grace,
And sure that soul was pictur'd in thy face.
Whose streaming eyes your heartfelt anguish tell:
Come seek with me the tomb where Pollio lies,
Tears aiding tears, and sighs encreasing sighs!
How great the grief! when genius fall a prey
In early bloom to death's unyielding sway?
When all the prospects of a father's joy,
A mother's fondest wishes for her boy,
One cruel stroke must blast, one cruel stroke destroy.
Let not th' unskilful muse attempt to tell
Thy many virtues, though she knew them well;
She knew thy soul adorn'd with ev'ry grace,
And sure that soul was pictur'd in thy face.
The youths, thy fellows, shall delight to tread
The noble footsteps thy example led;
To make those virtues in their conduct shine,
Which once, dear youth, we all acknowledg'd thine.
How few excel! they'll place thee mid that few,
Lament your loss, and strive to be like you.
The noble footsteps thy example led;
To make those virtues in their conduct shine,
Which once, dear youth, we all acknowledg'd thine.
How few excel! they'll place thee mid that few,
Lament your loss, and strive to be like you.
Oh! may your fate this warning give to all,
“That old age must, and blooming youth may fall.”
“That old age must, and blooming youth may fall.”
| The miscellaneous essays and occasional writings of Francis Hopkinson, Esq | |