Part 23 (2/2)

Two mighty columns rise in my support; In their more awful and authentic voice, Record profane and sacred, drown the muse, Tho' loud, and far out-thread her threatening song.

Still further, Holles! suffer me to plead That I speak freely, as I speak to thee: Guilt only startles at the name of guilt; And truth, plain truth, is welcome to the wise.

Thus what seem'd my presumption is thy praise.

Praise, and immortal praise, is virtue's claim; And virtue's sphere is action: yet we grant Some merit to the trumpet's loud alarm, Whose clangour kindles cowards into men.

Nor shall the verse, perhaps, be quite forgot, Which talks of immortality, and bids, In every British breast, true glory rise, As now the warbling lark awakes the morn.

To close, my lord! with that which all should close And all begin, and strike us every hour, Though no war wak'd us, no black tempest frown'd.

The morning rises gay; yet gayest morn Less glorious after night's inc.u.mbent shades; Less glorious far bright nature, rich array'd With golden robes, in all the pomp of noon, Than the first feeble dawn of moral day?

Sole day, (let those whom statesmen serve attend,) Though the sun ripens diamonds for their crowns; Sole day worth his regard whom Heaven ordains, Undarken'd, to behold noon dark, and date, From the sun's death, and every planet's fall, His all-ill.u.s.trious and eternal year; Where statesmen and their monarchs, (names of awe And distance here,) shall rank with common men, Yet own their glory never dawn'd before.

RESIGNATION.

In Two Parts.

My soul shall be satisfied even as it were with marrow and fatness, when my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips.

PSALM lxiii. 6.

Advertis.e.m.e.nt.

This was not intended for the public; there were many and strong reasons against it, and are so still; but some extracts of it, from the few copies which were given away, being got into the printed papers, it was thought necessary to publish something, lest a copy still more imperfect than this should fall into the press: and it is hoped, that this unwelcome occasion of publication may be some excuse for it.

As for the following stanzas, G.o.d Almighty's infinite power, and marvellous goodness to man, is dwelt on, as the most just and cogent reason for our cheerful and absolute resignation to his will; nor are any of those topics declined, which have a just tendency to promote that supreme virtue: such as the vanity of this life, the value of the next, the approach of death, &c.

Part I.

The days how few, how short the years Of man's too rapid race!

Each leaving, as it swiftly flies, A shorter in its place.

They who the longest lease enjoy, Have told us with a sigh, That to be born seems little more Than to begin to die.

Numbers there are who feel this truth With fears alarm'd; and yet, In life's delusions lull'd asleep, This weighty truth forget:

And am not I to these akin?

Age slumbers o'er the quill; Its honour blots, whate'er it writes, And am I writing still?

Conscious of nature in decline, And languor in my thoughts; To soften censure, and abate Its rigour on my faults

Permit me, madam! ere to you The promis'd verse I pay, To touch on felt infirmity, Sad sister of decay.

One world deceas'd, another born, Like Noah they behold, O'er whose white hairs, and furrow'd brows, Too many suns have roll'd:

Happy the patriarch! he rejoic'd His second world to see: My second world, though gay the scene, Can boast no charms for me.

To me this brilliant age appears With desolation spread; Near all with whom I liv'd, and smil'd, Whilst life was life, are dead;

And with them died my joys; the grave Has broken nature's laws; And clos'd, against this feeble frame, Its partial cruel jaws;

Cruel to spare! condemn'd to life!

A cloud impairs my sight; My weak hand disobeys my will, And trembles as I write.

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