No prefent health can alth.infure For yet an hour to come; No med'cine, though it often cure, And oh! 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! * John Cox, Parish Clerk of Northampton. ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR -Placidiq; ibi demum morte quievit. Virg. Then calm at length he breath'd his foul away. "OH moft delightful hour by man "Experienc'd here below; "The hour that terminates his fpan, "Worlds fhould not bribe me back to tread "Again life's dreary wafte; "To fee my days again o'erfpread "With all the gloomy past. "My home, henceforth, is in the fkies, 66 Earth, feas, and fun adieu; "All heaven unfolded to my eyes, "I have no fight for you." Thus fpake Afpatio, firm poffeft Of faith's fupporting rod; Then breath'd his foul into its reft, The bofom of his God. He was a man among the few Sincere on Virtue's fide, And all his ftrength from fcripture drew, To hourly ufe apply'd. That rule he priz'd, by that he fear'd, He hated, hop'd, and lov'd, Nor ever frown'd, or fad appear'd, But when his heart had rov'd. For he was frail as thou or I, And evil felt within, But when he felt it, heav'd a figh, Such liv'd Afpatio, and at laft, Call'd up from earth to heav'n, The gulph of death triumphant pafs'd, By gales of bleffing driven. His joys be MINE, each reader cries, They fhall be yours, my verfe replies, Such ONLY be your VOL. II. lives. A a FOR THE TOMB OF Mr. HAMILTON. PAUSE here, and think: a monitory rhime Confult Life's filent clock, thy bounding vein; And many a tomb, like Hamilton's, aloud THE POPLAR-FIELD. THE poplars are fell'd, farewell to the fhade Twelve years have elaps'd fince I laft took a view The blackbird has fled to another retreat, My fugitive years are all hafting away, |