Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

By a LADY, on the Death of her
HUSBAND.

N what foft Language fhall my Thoughts get

I

[free,

My dear ALEXIS, whilft I talk of Thee?

Ye Mufes, Graces, all ye gentle Train

Of weeping Loves, affift the penfive Strain.
But why should I emplore your moving Art ?
Tis but to speak the Dictates of my Heart.
And all that knew the charming Youth will join
Their friendly Sighs and pious Tears with mine:

For all who knew His Merit must confefs,

M

In Grief for HIM there can be no Excess.

His Soul was form'd to act each glorious Part
Of Life unftain'd with Vanity or Art.

No Thought within His gen'rous Mind had Birth,
But what He might have own'd to Heav'n or Earth.
Practis'd by HIM, each Virtue grew more bright,
And fhone with more than its own native Light.
Whatever

Whatever noble Warmth cou'd recommend

The juft, the active, and the conftant Friend,
Was all his own- But oh! a dearer Name

And fofter Ties my endless Sorrows claim.
Loft in Despair, diftracted and forlorn,
The Lover I, and tender Husband mourn.

[ocr errors]

Whate'er to fuch fuperior Worth was due,

t

Whate'er Excess the fondet. Paffion knew,
I felt for Thee, Dear Youth, my Joys, my Care,
MyPray'rs themselves were thine; and only where
Thou waft concern'd, my Transport was fincere.
Whene'er I beg'd for Bleffings on thy Head,
Nothing was cold or formal that I faid.

My warmeft Vows to Heav'n were made for Thee,
And Love ftill mingled with my Piety.

Oh! Thou waft all my Glory, all my Pride,
Thro' Life's uncertain Paths my conflant Guide.

Regardless of the World's, to gain Thy Praife,
Was all that cou'd my juft Ambition raife.

Why

Why has my Heart this fond Engagement known, Or why has Heav'n diffolv'd the Tye fo foon? Why was the charming Youth fo form'd to move, Or why was all my Heart fo turn'd for Love?

But here Refolves a vain Defence had made, Where fo much Worth and Eloquence cou'd plead. For HE cou'd talk! 'twas Extasy to hear!

'Twas Joy, 'twas Harmony to ev'ry Ear! Eternal Mufick dwelt upon his Tongue,

Sweet and transporting as the Mufes' Song.

Lift'ning to HIм my Cares were charm'd to Reft,
While Love and filent Rapture fill'd my Breaft.
Unheeded the swift Moments took their Flight,
And Time was meafur'd only by Delight.

I hear the lov'd, the melting Accents ftill;
And still the warm, the tender Transport feel.
Again I see the sprightly Paffions rife,

And Life and Pleasure kindle in His Eyes.

My Fancy paints HIM ftill with ev'ry Grace.

But ah! the dear Resemblance mocks my fond Em

brace;

K

The

The flatt'ring Vision takes its hafty Flight,
And Scenes of Horror fwim before my Sight.
Grief and Defpair in all their Terrors rife,
A dying Lover pale and gasping lies.
Each dismal Circumftance appears in view,
The fatal Object is for ever new.

His Anguish with the quickest Sence I feel,
And hear this fad, this moving Language ftill.

[ocr errors]

My dearest Wife, my laft, my fondest Care, "Sure Heav'n for Thee will hear a dying Pray'r.

Be Thou the Care of facred Providence,

"When I am gone be That thy kind Defence. "Ten thousand fmiling Bleffings crown thy Head, "When I am gone, and number'd with the Dead. "Think on thy Vows, be to My Memory juft, "My future Fame and Honour are thy Truft. "From all Engagements here I now am free, But that which keeps my ling'ring Soul with Thee.

" How

"How much I love, thy bleeding Heart can tell, "Which must like mine the Pangs of parting feel.

But hafte to meet me on the happy Plains, "Where mighty Love in endlefs Triumph reigns. He said then gently yielded up his Breath, And fell a blooming Sacrifice to Death.

But oh! what Words, what Numbers can exprefs, What Thought conceive the Height of my Distress ? Why did they tear me from thy breathlefs Clay? I fhou'd have ftay'd, and wept my Life away. Yet, gentle Shade, where'er thou now dost rove, Thro' fome bleft Vale, or ever verdent Grove, One Moment liften to my Grief, and take The fofteft Vows that conftant Love can make.

"For THEE all Thoughts of Pleasure I forego, "For THEE my Tears fhail never cease to flow, "For THEE at once I from the World retire, "To feed in filent Shades an hopelefs Fire. K ?

« My

« ПредишнаНапред »