Observe the dappled foresters, how light They bound and airy o'er the sunny glade; One falls-the rest, wide scatter'd with affright, Vanish at once into the darkest shade. Had we their wisdom, should we, often warn'd, Sad waste! for which no after-thrift atones! Learn then, ye living! by the mouths be taught That, soon or late, death also is your lot, for you. ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1789. -Placidaque ibi demum morte quievit. VIRG. There calm at length he breathed his soul away. "O MOST delightful hour by man Experienced here below, The hour that terminates his span, "Worlds should not bribe me back to tread Again life's dreary waste, To see again my day o'erspread 66 With all the gloomy past. My home henceforth is in the skies, All heaven unfolded to my eyes, I have no sight for you." So spake Aspasio, firm possess'd The bosom of his God. He was a man among the few Sincere on virtue's side; And all his strength from Scripture drew, To hourly use applied. That rule he prized, by that he fear'd, But when his heart had roved. For he was frail as thou or I, But when he felt it, heaved a sigh, Such lived Aspasio; and at last His joys be mine, each Reader cries, ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1790. Ne commonentem recta sperne. BUCHANAN. Despise not my good counsel. He who sits from day to day Hardly knows that he has sung. Where the watchman in his round So your verse-man I, and Clerk, And the foe's unerring aim. Duly at my time I come, Publishing to all aloud, Soon the grave must be your home, And your only suit a shroud. But the monitory strain, Oft repeated in your ears, Seems to sound too much in vain, Can a truth, by all confess'd Of such magnitude and weight, Grow, by being oft impress'd, Trivial as a parrot's prate? Pleasure's call attention wins, Death and judgement, heaven and hell- When some stranger is interr'd. O then, ere the turf or tomb Cover us from every eye, Spirit of instruction! come, Make us learn that we must die. ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1792. Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas, VIRG. Happy the mortal who has traced effects THANKLESS for favours from on high, But he, not wise enough to scan Strange fondness of the human heart, Enamour'd of its harm! Strange world, that costs it so much smart, And still has power to charm. |