And Oh! that humble as my lot, And scorned as is my strain, Thefe truths, though known, too much forgot, I may not teach in vain. So prays your clerk with all his heart, And ere he quits the pen, Begs you for once to take his part And answer all-Amen! ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1788. Quod adest, memento Componere æquus. Cætera fluminis Ritu feruntur. HOR: Improve the present hour, for all befide COULD I, from heaven inspired, as fure prefage To whom the rifing year fhall prove his laft; As I can number in my pun&tual page, And-item down the victims of the paft; How each would trembling wait the mournful sheet, Time then would feem more precious than the joys, Then doubtless many a trifler, on the brink Ah felf-deceived! Could I prophetic fay Obferve the dappled forefters, how light They bound, and airy o'er the funny glade- Had we their wisdom, should we often warned, Sad wafte! for which no after-thrift atones. Learn then ye living! by the mouths be taught And the next opening grave may yawn for you. ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1789. -Placidaque ibi demum morte quievit. VIRG. There calm at length he breathed his foul away. "OH moft delightful hour by man "Experienced here below, "The hour that terminates his span, "His folly, and his woe! "Worlds fhould not bribe me back to tread "Again life's dreary waste, "To fee again my day o'erspread "With all the gloomy past. "My home henceforth is in the skies, "Earth, feas, and fun adieu! "All heaven unfolded to my eyes, "I have no fight for you." So fpoke Afpafio, firm poffeft Of faith's fupporting rod, The bofom of his God. He was a man among the few Sincere on virtue's fide; And all his ftrength from scripture drew, To hourly use applied. That rule he prized, by that he feared, Nor ever frowned, or fad appeared, For he was frail as thou or I, And evil felt within: But when he felt it, heaved a figh,. Such lived Afpafio; and at laft Called up from Earth to Heaven, The gulph of death triumphant passed, By gales of bleffing driven. |