| |
| ON Death’s domain intent I fix my eyes, | |
| Where human nature in vast ruin lies: | |
| With pensive mind I search the drear abode, | |
| Where the great conqu’ror has his spoils bestow’d; | |
| There there the offspring of six thousand years | 5 |
| In endless numbers to my view appears: | |
| Whole kingdoms in his gloomy den are thrust, | |
| And nations mix with their primeval dust: | |
| Insatiate still he gluts the ample tomb; | |
| His is the present, his the age to come. | 10 |
| See here a brother, here a sister spread, | |
| And a sweet daughter mingled with the dead. | |
| |
| But, Madam, let your grief be laid aside, | |
| And let the fountain of your tears be dry’d, | |
| In vain they flow to wet the dusty plain, | 15 |
| Your sighs are wafted to the skies in vain, | |
| Your pains they witness, but they can no more, | |
| While Death reigns tyrant o’er this mortal shore. | |
| |
| The glowing stars and silver queen of light | |
| At last must perish in the gloom of night: | 20 |
| Resign thy friends to that Almighty hand, | |
| Which gave them life, and bow to his command; | |
| Thine Avis give without a murm’ring heart, | |
| Though half thy soul be fated to depart. | |
| To shining guards consign thine infant care | 25 |
| To waft triumphant through the seas of air: | |
| Her soul enlarg’d to heav’nly pleasure springs, | |
| She feeds on truth and uncreated things. | |
| Methinks I hear her in the realms above, | |
| And leaning forward with a filial love, | 30 |
| Invite you there to share immortal bliss | |
| Unknown, untasted in a state like this. | |
| With tow’ring hopes, and growing grace arise, | |
| And seek beatitude beyond the skies. | |
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