STANZAS, Subjoined to the YEARLY BILL of MORTALITY of the Parish of ALL-SAINTS, NORTHAMPTON, Anno Domini 1787. "Pallida Mors æquo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas, Regumque turres." HORACE. Pale Death with equal foot strikes wide the door WHILE thirteen moons saw smoothly run All these, life's rambling journey done, Was man (frail always) made more frail Did famine or did plague prevail, That so much death appears? No; these were vigorous as their sires; Like crowded forest-trees we stand, * Composed for John Cox, parish clerk of Northampton. Green as the bay-tree, ever green, The gay, the thoughtless, have I seen, Read, ye that run, the awful truth With which I charge my page; A worm is in the bud of youth, No present health can health insure No medicine, though it oft can cure, And O! that, humble as my lot, These 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." HORACE. Improve the present hour, for all beside COULD I, from Heaven inspired, as sure presage How each would trembling wait the mournful sheet, Time then would seem more precious than the joys Then, doubtless, many a trifler, on the brink Ah, self-deceived! Could I prophetic say Observe the dappled foresters, how light 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 And the next opening grave may yawn for you. ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1789. 'Placidâque ibi demum morte quievit." VIRGIL. There calm at length he breathed his soul away. "O MOST delightful hour by man "Experienced here below, "The hour that terminates his span, "His folly, and his woe! "Worlds should not bribe me back to tread 66 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, "Earth, seas, and sun, adieu! "All Heaven unfolded to my eyes, "I have no sight for you." So spake Aspasio, firm possess'd Then breathed his soul into its rest, The bosom of his God. |