The Works of the Reverend and Learned Isaac Watts, D. D. Containing, besides his Sermons, and Essays on miscellaneous subjects, several additional pieces, Selected from his Manuscripts by the Rev. Dr. Jennings, and the Rev. Dr. Doddridge, in 1753: to which are prefixed, memoirs of the life of the author, compiled by the Rev. George Burder. In six volumes |
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TO MR. NICHOLAS CLARK.
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 | The Works of the Reverend and Learned Isaac Watts, D. D. |  |
TO MR. NICHOLAS CLARK.
The Complaint.
I
'Twas in a vale where osiers growBy murm'ring streams we told our woe,
And mingled all our cares:
Friendship sat pleas'd in both our eyes,
In both the weeping dews arise,
And drop alternate tears.
II
The vigorous monarch of the dayNow mounting half his morning way
Shone with a fainter bright:
Still sick'ning, and decaying still,
Dimly he wander'd up the hill,
With his expiring light.
III
In dark eclipse his chariot roll'd,The queen of night obscur'd his gold
Behind her sable wheels;
Nature grew sad to lose the day
The flow'ry vales in mourning lay,
In mourning stood the hills.
IV
Such are our sorrows, Clark, I cry'd,Clouds of the brain grow black, and hide
Our dark'ned souls behind:
In the young morning of our years
Distempering fogs have climb'd the spheres,
And choke the lab'ring mind.
V
Lo, the gay planet rears his head,And overlooks the lofty shade,
New bright'ning all the skies:
But say, dear partner of my moan,
When will our long eclipse be gone,
Or when our suns arise?
VI
In vain are potent herbs apply'dHarmonious sounds in vain have try'd
To make the darkness fly;
But drugs would raise the dead as soon,
Or clatt'ring brass relieve the moon,
When fainting in the sky.
VII
Some friendly spirit from above,Born of the light, and nurst with love,
Assist our feebler fires;
Force these invading glooms away;
Souls should be seen quite thro' their clay,
Bright as your heav'nly choirs.
VIII
But if the fogs must damp the flame,Gently, kind death, dissolve our frame,
Release the pris'ner-mind:
Our souls shall mount, at thy discharge,
To their bright source, and shine at large
Nor clouded, nor confin'd.
| The Works of the Reverend and Learned Isaac Watts, D. D. | |