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SOLILOQUY XV.
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SOLILOQUY XV.

Thou lovely object of my utmost hope,
Whate'er my soul stretch'd to its vast extent,
And wide capacity of bliss can grasp!
I would be from this moment free from all
Terrene delight, and joy in God alone.
Here I might still expatiate in the realms
Of boundless bliss, and drink the springs of life
Unsully'd at the native fountain head.
O thou that by a soft, but certain band
Of everlasting love hast drawn my soul;
Continue the attraction, bring me near,
Nor let us part for ever!—What words can paint

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The horrors of that doom, that should divide
My soul from all its bliss? accurst division!
O be it ne'er my lot! Let dark oblivion
Extinguish this frail spark of entity,
Blot me, in mercy blot me from existence,
Rather than blot me from the book of life!
What pangs, what agonies would shake my soul
To take a last, a sad farewel of thee;
The rage of love, an everlasting fire,
Must prey for ever on the softest sense,
And feeling of the soul—Rather let loose
Thy mighty hand, and crush me into nothing;
At least efface thy image from my heart,
Those traces of an excellence divine.
Tormenting view! if ne'er to be enjoy'd,
Let me forget thee, and forget my self;
Lose all remembrance of thy favours past,
Nor e'er recal to mind those blissful hours,
Spent in a sweet communion with my God.
Should these transporting scenes return in view,
I sure shall curse my self, defy the saints
That in thy temple dwell, and see thy face:
Perhaps, this tongue (O emphasis of woe!
The lowest depth, the horror of damnation!)
Perhaps, this tongue urg'd with infernal rage,
With impious blasphemies may wound thy name;
That dear, adorable, transporting name,
That name imprinted on my inmost soul,
That now is all my joy, my final hope!