Who, in courtship greatly fped, Wins the damfel to his bed, These endowments, heavenly dower! Gentle from a gentle kind, Brought him in the promis'd hour, Shall for ever bind him to thee, 60 64 68 72 76 Shall renew him still to woo thee. 80 A a Оп On the DEATH of the RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM EARL COWPER. 1723. W STROPHE I AKE the British harp again, For I, once more, must in affliction fing, The burden of a heart o'ercharg'd with woe: ANTIS TROPHE 1. Not to her, his fondest care, Not to his lov'd offspring fair, Nor his country ever dear, From her, from them, from Britain torn: 16 20 Had Had been to him twice told, and twice again, In that feal'd book, where all things which pertain To mortal man, whatever things befall, Are from eternity confirm'd, beyond recall: E PODE I. Where every lofs, and every gain, Each bitter, and each sweet alloy, What the wifeft live lamenting. STROPHE II. Hither fent, who knows the day Various is the term affign'd : An hour, a day, fome months, or years, 24 28 32 But, through the swift fucceffion of mankind, The ftrength of cities, or of courts the grace, 42 Or who in camps delight, or who abide Of them, though many here long-lingering dwell, ANTIS TROPHE II. Here we come, and hence we go, Shadows paffing to and fro, Seen a while, forgotten foon: But thou, to fair diftin&tion born, 50 Thou, Cowper, beamy in the morn Of life, ftill brightening to the pitch of noon, Hence fummon'd while thy virtues radiant shine, So long as Britons own the fame indulgent laws. E PODE II. United in one public weal, Rejoicing in one freedom, all, STROPHE III. Pouring forth, with heavy heart, 54 58 62 66 70 Who chaunted in authentic rhymes The worthies of the good old times, Ere living vice in verfe was varnish'd o'er, Support of friendlefs right, to powerful wrong Twice, there, approv'd, in righteoufhefs compleat : ANTISTROPHE III. 74 Celestial gifts!-Oh, when the nobles meet, 86 By foft alarms, and with a gentle force prevails! E PODE III. To fuch perfuafion, willing, yields The liberal mind, in freedom train❜d, A a 3 94 In |