Miscellaneous Pieces in Verse and Prose, By Theodosia [i.e. Anne Steele] |
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On receiving a Mourning Ring for a Young Relative.
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 | Miscellaneous Pieces |  |
On receiving a Mourning Ring for a Young Relative.
The mournful gift, attentive, while I view,
My once-lov'd Nancy rises to my thought;
The sigh of friendship, to her memory due,
Breathes from my heart, with tender anguish fraught.
My once-lov'd Nancy rises to my thought;
The sigh of friendship, to her memory due,
Breathes from my heart, with tender anguish fraught.
Young, blooming, amiable, lamented maid!
When life's gay, flattering prospect open'd fair;
Down sunk the scene in death's cold dismal shade,
And the fond parent mourns his frustrate care.
When life's gay, flattering prospect open'd fair;
Down sunk the scene in death's cold dismal shade,
And the fond parent mourns his frustrate care.
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Ye sad survivors, while each bleeding heart
Hangs on her lov'd idea, may you know
The heaven-taught lesson, the celestial art
To gather blessings in the shades of woe!
Hangs on her lov'd idea, may you know
The heaven-taught lesson, the celestial art
To gather blessings in the shades of woe!
Perhaps the awful stroke may seem severe;
But let reflection speak, her voice attend!
While grief supplies the unavailing tear,
Reflection points our own approaching end.
But let reflection speak, her voice attend!
While grief supplies the unavailing tear,
Reflection points our own approaching end.
That end approaching is our chief concern,
Life's most important business is, to die;
This truth, each friend expiring bids us learn,
Which, while we mourn, impels a deeper sigh.
Life's most important business is, to die;
This truth, each friend expiring bids us learn,
Which, while we mourn, impels a deeper sigh.
O may the needful sigh be unsupprest,
Till kind reflection lead the restless heart
To that bright world where only, life is blest,
And conquer'd death resigns his fatal dart!
Till kind reflection lead the restless heart
To that bright world where only, life is blest,
And conquer'd death resigns his fatal dart!
To life immortal, he reveals the way
Who dying triumph'd over nature's foe:
His word, if we receive, believe, obey,
Fair hope shall bloom amid the shades of woe.
Who dying triumph'd over nature's foe:
His word, if we receive, believe, obey,
Fair hope shall bloom amid the shades of woe.
39
Ye flattering scenes of earthly bliss, adieu!
You smile, and promise, but deceive the mind:
Celestial hope directs our upward view
To pleasures real, lasting and refin'd.
You smile, and promise, but deceive the mind:
Celestial hope directs our upward view
To pleasures real, lasting and refin'd.
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