Occasional verse, moral and sacred Published for the instruction and amusement of the Candidly Serious and Religious [by Edward Perronet] |
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UNWILLINGNESS OF OLD AGE TO DIE.
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 | Occasional verse, moral and sacred |  |
UNWILLINGNESS OF OLD AGE TO DIE.
AN EPITAPH.
I
Here sculks, who late, in yon forsaken cot,Liv'd to himself, as had been none but he;
Tho' now he moulders, and had been forgot,
As more confin'd, if possible could be.
148
II
But that when Death, his cruel adverse, came,And drew his dart, as eager to let fly,
He loud exclaim'd, and, calling him by name,
“Why aim'd at me, who am to thee so nigh?
III
“It can't be long ere this mean house of clayMust of itself come scattering to the ground:
'Twere pity, then, to hasten its decay,
And ruin that, which is in ruins found.
IV
“Besides, there are thy terrors might address,Far more dispos'd and ready at thy call;
Nay, who expect and long for its access,
Nor wish the shaft on other heads to fall.
V
“To these then go, and spread the quiver wide,Contract their being to the wish'd for span;
But do not in this breast thy dagger hide,
Do, Death, go back, and spare a poor old man.”
VI
The foe incens'd, a moment silent stood;When, sternly gazing in the miser's face;
“What!” he replied, “was I before the flood,
And shall I ask thy exit as a grace?
149
VII
“Too long already has thy thread been spun;I only wish I had been sent before:
I could but then been bid, as now, be gone!
Nor could thy juniors well demanded more.
VIII
“And if they had, unless some better pleaThan gifts abus'd, or time mispent were giv'n,
I had them serv'd, as now I shall serve thee,
And seal'd with this the mandature of Heav'n.”
IX
This said, he grinn'd, and, bent upon the deed,(Tho' three short days had been a century's birth)
The reckless archer threw the fatal reed,
And struck the victim breathless to the earth.
X
“There lie,” he cried, “a dread example fairOf age more harden'd by its long increase,
That they who read, may for their own prepare,
And meet this message with a smile of peace!”
| Occasional verse, moral and sacred | |