Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral/To his Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, on the Death of his Lady
To His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, on the Death of his Lady. March 24, 1773.
ALL-conquering Death! by thy restless pow'r,
Hope's tow'ring plumage falls to rife no more!
Of scenes terrestrial how the glories fly,
Forget their splendors, and submit to die!
Beyond the flood in sacred annals told,
And the great sage,[2] whom fiery courses drew
To heav'n's bright portals from Elisha's view;
Wond'ring he gaz'd at the refulgent car,
From Death these only could exemption boast,
And without dying gain'd th' immortal coast.
Not falling millions sate the tyrant's mind,
Nor can the victor's progress be confin'd.
He leads the virtuous to the realms of peace;
His to conduct to the immortal plains,
Where heav'n's Supreme in bliss and glory reigns.
There sits, illustrious Sir, thy beauteous spouse;
Hail'd with acclaim among the heav'nly choirs,
Her soul new-kindling with seraphic fires,
To notes divine she tunes the vocal firings,
While heav'n's high concave with the music rings.
No—all descriptive arts, and eloquence are faint;
Nor canst thou, Oliver, assent refuse
To heav'nly tidings from the Afric muse.
As soon may change thy laws, eternal fate,
Or her Benevolence forgotten lie,
Which wip'd the trick'iing tear from Mis'ry's eye.
Whene'er the adverse winds were known to blow,
When loss to loss[3] ensu'd, and woe to woe,
She sat resign'd to the divine command.
No longer then, great Sir, her death deplore,
And let us hear the mournful sigh no more,
Restrain the sorrow streaming from thine eye,
Nor let thy wishes be to earth confin'd,
But soaring high pursue th' unbodied mind.
Forgive the muse, forgive th' advent'rous lays,
That fain thy soul to heav'nly scenes would raise.