The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
Philo, irresolute, is still led on,
Till health, and genius, and his strength are gone.
The rosy cheek is pale, the manly face,
Where Health had stamped her own strong masc'line grace,
Fast shrinks away, and difficult the breath—
He feels the woeful harbingers of death.
Fain would he turn to his once healthful food,
But nought he sees can do the smallest good.
Life would die out, as tapers do expire,
Did not strong spirits keep alive the fire.
His old companions, true to him when young,
Come to inquire, but when he hears each tongue,
Oh, how he weeps!—he knows what is the cause
Of his strong system making such a pause,
Wishes that all the spirits e'er he drunk,
Had deep within the mighty ocean sunk.
I leave the thoughts that press upon his mind,
When he must leave his dearest love behind.
The cares of earth with him will soon be o'er,
But what a boundless ocean lies before.
Till health, and genius, and his strength are gone.
The rosy cheek is pale, the manly face,
Where Health had stamped her own strong masc'line grace,
Fast shrinks away, and difficult the breath—
He feels the woeful harbingers of death.
Fain would he turn to his once healthful food,
But nought he sees can do the smallest good.
Life would die out, as tapers do expire,
Did not strong spirits keep alive the fire.
His old companions, true to him when young,
Come to inquire, but when he hears each tongue,
Oh, how he weeps!—he knows what is the cause
Of his strong system making such a pause,
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Had deep within the mighty ocean sunk.
I leave the thoughts that press upon his mind,
When he must leave his dearest love behind.
The cares of earth with him will soon be o'er,
But what a boundless ocean lies before.
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |