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Permit me, madam! ere to you
the promis'd verse I pay,
To touch on felt infirmity,
sad sister of decay.
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:
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, tho' gay the scene,
can boast no charms for me.
his second world to see;
My second world, tho' 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;
with desolation spread;
Near all with whom I liv'd, and smil'd,
whilst life was life, are dead;
And with them dy'd my joys; the grave
has broken nature's laws;
And clos'd, against this feeble frame,
its partial, cruel jaws;
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.
a cloud impairs my sight;
My weak hand disobeys my will,
and trembles, as I write.
What
