The Works of the Late Aaron Hill ... In Four Volumes. Consisting of Letters on Various Subjects, And of Original Poems, Moral and Facetious. With An Essay on the Art of Acting |
A Letter from a departed Spirit;
|
The Works of the Late Aaron Hill | ||
153
A Letter from a departed Spirit;
to the Author (Mr. Pope) of a Lady's Character, lately publish'd, in a Thursday's Journal.
Stript, to the naked soul, escap'd, from clay,
From doubts, unfetter'd; and dissolv'd, in day:
Unwarm'd, by vanity; unreach'd, by strife,
And all my hopes, and fears, thrown off, with life:
Why am I charm'd, by Friendship's fond essays,
And, tho' unbody'd, conscious of thy praise?
From doubts, unfetter'd; and dissolv'd, in day:
Unwarm'd, by vanity; unreach'd, by strife,
And all my hopes, and fears, thrown off, with life:
Why am I charm'd, by Friendship's fond essays,
And, tho' unbody'd, conscious of thy praise?
Has
pride a portion, in the parted soul?
Does passion still, the formless mind controul?
Can gratitude out-pant the silent breath?
Or, a friend's sorrow pierce the glooms of death?
No—'tis a spirit's nobler taste of bliss!
That feels the worth, it left, in proofs, like this:
That, not its own applause, but thine, approves,
Whose practice praises, and whose virtue loves!
Who liv'st, to crown departed friends, with fame,
Then dying late, shall all, thou gav'st, reclaim.
Does passion still, the formless mind controul?
Can gratitude out-pant the silent breath?
Or, a friend's sorrow pierce the glooms of death?
No—'tis a spirit's nobler taste of bliss!
That feels the worth, it left, in proofs, like this:
That, not its own applause, but thine, approves,
Whose practice praises, and whose virtue loves!
Who liv'st, to crown departed friends, with fame,
Then dying late, shall all, thou gav'st, reclaim.
The Works of the Late Aaron Hill | ||