He knows the worthy from the vile, None are too mean to share his smile, Great God! and since thy piercing eye DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS, HEAR what the voice from Heaven proclaims, For all the pious dead; Sweet is the savour of their names, They die in Jesus, and are bless'd; How kind their slumbers are! Far from this world of toil and strife, The labours of their mortal life Of all the pious christians dead, ΕΡΙΤΑΡΗ ON A POOR BUT HONEST MAN. Stor, reader, here, and deign a look Ne'er enter'd in the ample book Of fortune or of fame. Studious of peace, he hated strife, Quarter'd therewith was innocence; In the great day of wrath, tho' pride AN OLD BEGGAR MAN. I SEE an old man sitting there, Old man, why are you sitting so? Ah, master! in the world so wide When I, like you, was young and gay, And so, instead of being taught And now that I am old and gray, But oft I shake my hoary head, MY MOTHER. Wно fed me from her gentle breast, My Mother. When sleep forsook my open eye, Who was it sung sweet lullaby, And rock'd me that I should not cry ? My Mother. Who sat and watch'd my infant head, My Mother. When pain and sickness made me cry, And wept for fear that I should die? My Mother. Who drest my doll in clothes so gay, And minded all I had to say? My Mother. Who ran to help me when I fell, My Mother. Who taught my infant lips to pray, And can I ever cease to be My Mother. Who wast so very kind to me, My Mother. Ah, no! the thought I cannot bear; And, if God please my life to spare, My Mother. When thou art feeble, old, and gray, My Mother.' And when I see thee hang thy head, 'Twill be my turn to watch thy bed, And tears of sweet affection shed, My Mother. For God, who lives above the skies, My Mother. MY FATHER. Who took me from my Mother's arms, Shewed me the world and nature's charms? My Father. Who made me feel and understand The wonders of the sea and land, And mark'd, through all, the Maker's hand? My Father. Who climbed with me the mountain's height, And watch'd my looks of dread delight, While rose the glorious orb of light? My Father. |