صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

POETRY.

TO MY FRIENDS;

On the Anniversary of their Wedding-Day, 1757

A Dialogue between Honeftus and Candida.

[By Mifs F]

Honeflus.

HIS day in Hymen's facred bands

ΤΗ

We joined our hearts as well as hands.
Ah! long before my heart was thine:
But then I knew and called thee mine.

Candida.

Nor less than you I bless the hour,
When first I felt the pleasing power
Of sweet, refiftless sympathy.
A gentle heat, till then unknown,
Played round my heart, and in the ftone
Softened and made a place for thee.
Honeftus.

Thou waft indeed of marble mould,
Polished and fmooth, but wondrous cold.
The Patriarch full fourteen years,

In heat and cold, midft hopes and fears,
For Rachael fervéd. Unwearied he!
Yet Rachael lefs defervéd than thee.

Candida.

When life depends upon the choice,
"Examine well" is wifdom's voice.

Your

Your worth I faw, nor was unmovéd,
Because that with refpe&t you lovėd.

From no fond paffion mine begun :
Reafon alone the conqueft won.
Honeftus mine by tendéreft ties,
The brother, parent, friend supplies.
In the ftraight path his counfels lead,
I lean on him, and safely tread:
Sweet bleffing from our union fprings,
And gives to Virtue eagle's wings.

Honeftus.

No change my firm affection knows,
Feels no decreafe; with time it grows.
Where ftormy paffions fill the breast,
Thy gentle looks compofe to reft:
Sweet zephyrs breathe; rough tempefts cease,
And anxious cares are lulled to peace.
I fought not beauty where I wooed,
Nor wealth, nor honours I purfuẻd.
I fought a friend in focial life,
And heaven bestowed my dearest Wife.
Accept, great Power, who madeft us one,
My thanks, while thy beft gift I own.

Candida.

My thoughts can no expreflion find,
So faft they rush upon the mind.
To heaven I make this one request,
(And let my actions speak the rest)
Oh, may these bands, our joy and pride,
By both through life be dignified!
Nor death the nuptial tye shall end,
But when we both to heaven afcend,
With holy, pure, increasing love
The marriage-feaft well keep above,
3 I 2

Το

1

To Mr.

on his Wedding-Day, 1739.

[By the fame.]

WELL may you on this day rejoice,

That made Eliza yours;

Her condu&t dignifies your choice,
Your happiness secures.

[blocks in formation]

Stopt is my paffion's boistèrous tide,
Soon as her voice it hears;

And all my nature's ftubborn pride
Melts into contrite tears.

Caft in the tendèreft, softeft mould,
Her heart must sympathize:
Unmoved she cannot tears behold,”
But wipes them from my eyes,

Ne'er did my looks betray a want,
But foon as she perceived,
E'er I could afk, fhe flew to grant,
And readily relieved.

Then 'tis most just that I should pray,
(Nor can I e'er do lefs:)

May each returning nuptial-day
Your happiness increase!

Nor let the focial ties end here,
Too fhort a date for love!

But in the eternal world appear
To' increase your bliss above!

S

A departing Minister's Prayer.

HEPHERD of fouls, the great, the good,

Who on thy fervant's fide hast stood,

And blessed my ministry,

Ready my profpered course to end,
I to thy guardian love commend

The flock received from thee.

Beneath

454

Beneath thy wings, their fure defence,
Protected by Omnipotence,

Thy moft diftinguished care;

The lambs and fheep of England's fold,
Now in thy book of life inrolled
Preserve for ever there.

Our Church a thoufand-fold increase,
With every gospel blessing bless,
And o'er the earth difperfe,
Till every heart thy kingdom own,
Till thou art feared, confefféd and known,
Throughout the universe.

In hope of that thrice happy day,
To quit this tenement of clay

Thy fummons I receive;

For when I lay my body down,
Thy work fhall still be carried on,
And God for ever live.

The Spirit's refidue is thine:
Fit inftruments for thy design,
Difpenfers of thy grace,

(If fome like falt, their favour lofe)

Thou canst from other ftones produce,

And nobler veffels raise.

Come then, thy fervant to release,
And fuffered to depart in peace,
Without a lingering figh;
In all the confidence of hope
I now afcend the mountain-top
I get me up and die!

On

« السابقةمتابعة »