EPITAPH: BEING PART OF AN INSCRIPTION FOR A MONUMENT TO BE ERECTED BY A GENTLEMAN TO THE MEMORY OF HIS LADY. FAREWELL, my best beloved! whose heavenly mind Genius with virtue, strength with softness, joined; Devotion, undebased by pride or art, With meek simplicity, and joy of heart; Though sprightly, gentle; though polite, sincere ; Unblamed, unequalled, in each sphere of life, ODE ON LORD HAY'S BIRTH-DAY. 13TH MAY, 1767. A MUSE, unskilled in venal praise, Who loves simplicity of lays Thy cradle to adorn. 7 For, not on beds of gaudy flowers Thine ancestors reclined, Where sloth dissolves, and spleen devours, All energy of mind; To hurl the dart, to ride the car, To stem the deluges of war, And snatch from Fate a sinking land ; Trample the invader's lofty crest, And from his grasp the dagger wrest, And desolating brand: 'Twas this that raised the illustrious line, To match the first in fame; A thousand years have seen it shine With unabated flame: Have seen thy mighty sires appear The pride and pattern of the brave. Yet, pure from lust of blood their fire, And from Ambition's wild desire, They triumphed but to save. The Muse with joy attends their way The vales of peace along ; There, to its Lord the village gay Yon castle's glittering towers contain Nor to the suppliant's wail resound: There, to the sympathetic heart To mitigate the mourner's smart, The cold and solitary breast; And in his joy be blessed. O yet, ere Pleasure plant her snare Ere Flattery her song prepare To check the voice of Truth; O may his country's guardian power Attend the slumbering Infant's bower, And bright, inspiring dreams impart ; To rouse the hereditary fire, To kindle each sublime desire, Exalt, and warm the heart. Swift to reward a parent's fears, A parent's hopes to crown, Roll on in peace, ye blooming years, That rear him to renown; When, in his finished form and face, Admiring multitudes shall trace Each patrimonial charm combined; The courteous yet majestic mien, The liberal smile, the look serene, The great and gentle mind. |