PAUSE, courteous Spirit! - Balbi supplicates That thou, with no reluctant voice, for him Here laid in mortal darkness, wouldst prefer A prayer to the Redeemer of the world. This to the dead by sacred right belongs; All else is nothing. — Did occasion suit
To tell his worth, the marble of this tomb Would ill suffice: for Plato's lore sublime, And all the wisdom of the Stagirite,
Enriched and beautified his studious mind: With Archimedes also he conversed
As with a chosen friend; nor did he leave Those laureate wreaths ungathered which the Nymphs
Twine near their loved Permessus. - Finally, Himself above each lower thought uplifting, His ears he closed to listen to the songs Which Sion's Kings did consecrate of old; And his Permessus found on Lebanon. A blessed man! who of protracted days Made not, as thousands do, a vulgar sleep; But truly did he live his life. Urbino, Take pride in him! —O Passenger, farewell!
By a blest Husband guided, Mary came From nearest kindred, Vernon her new name; She came, though meek of soul, in seemly pride Of happiness and hope, a youthful Bride. O dread reverse! if aught be so, which proves That God will chasten whom he dearly loves. Faith bore her up through pains in mercy given, And troubles that were each a step to Heaven: Two Babes were laid in earth before she died; A third now slumbers at the Mother's side; Its Sister-twin survives, whose smiles afford A trembling solace to her widowed Lord.
Reader! if to thy bosom cling the pain Of recent sorrow combated in vain;
Or if thy cherished grief have failed to thwart Time still intent on his insidious part, Lulling the mourner's best good thoughts asleep, Pilfering regrets we would, but cannot, keep; Bear with him, -judge him gently who makes known
His bitter loss by this memorial Stone; And pray that in his faithful breast the grace Of resignation find a hallowed place.
Six months to six years added he remained Upon this sinful earth, by sin unstained:
O blessed Lord! whose mercy then removed A Child whom every eye that looked on loved; Support us, teach us calmly to resign
What we possessed, and now is wholly thine!
In affectionate remembrance of Frances Fermor, whose remains are deposited in the church of Claines, near Worcester, this stone is erected by her sister, Dame Margaret, wife of Sir George Beaumont, Bart., who, feeling not less than the love of a brother for the deceased, commends this memorial to the care of his heirs and successors in the possession of this place.
By vain affections unenthralled,
Though resolute when duty called To meet the world's broad eye, Pure as the holiest cloistered nun That ever feared the tempting sun, Did Fermor live and die.
This Tablet, hallowed by her name, One heart-relieving tear may claim; But if the pensive gloom
Of fond regret be still thy choice, Exalt thy spirit, hear the voice
Of Jesus from her tomb!
"I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE."
IN THE CHAPEL-YARD OF LANGDALE, WESTMORELAND.
BY playful smiles, (alas! too oft
A sad heart's sunshine,) by a soft And gentle nature, and a free Yet modest hand of charity,
Through life was OWEN LLOYD endeared
To young and old; and how revered
Had been that pious spirit, a tide
Of humble mourners testified,
When, after pains dispensed to prove
The measure of God's chastening love, Here, brought from far, his corse found rest,- Fulfilment of his own request;
Urged less for this Yew's shade, though he Planted with such fond hope the tree, Less for the love of stream and rock, Dear as they were, than that his Flock, When they no more their Pastor's voice Could hear to guide them in their choice
Through good and evil, help might have, Admonished, from his silent grave,
Of righteousness, of sins forgiven,
peace on earth and bliss in heaven.
ADDRESS TO THE SCHOLARS OF THE VILLAGE SCHOOL OF
I COME, ye little noisy Crew, Not long your pastime to prevent; I heard the blessing which to you Our common Friend and Father sent. I kissed his cheek before he died; And when his breath was fled,
I raised, while kneeling by his side, His hand: it dropped like lead.
Your hands, dear Little-ones, do all
That can be done, will never fall Like his till they are dead.
By night or day, blow foul or fair, Ne'er will the best of all your train Play with the locks of his white hair, Or stand between his knees again.
Here did he sit confined for hours; But he could see the woods and plains,
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