STANZAS Subjoined to the Yearly Bill of Mortality of the Parish of All-Saints, Northampton, Anno Domini 1787. Pallida Mors æquo pulsat pede pauperum ta bernas, Regumque turres. HOR. Pale Death with equal foot strikes wide the door Of royal halls, and hovels of the poor. WHILE thirteen moons saw smoothly run The Nen's barge-laden wave, 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, No present health can health ensure 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 aquus. Cætera fluminis Ritu feruntur. HOR. Improve the present hour, for all beside. COULD I, from Heaven inspired, as sure presage How each would trembling wait the mournful sheet, 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 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 wo! Worlds should not bribe me back to tread Again life's dreary waste, To see again my day o'erspread 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 of faith's supporting rod, The bosom of his God. He was a man among the few Sincere on virtue's side; And all his strength from Scriptures drew To hourly use applied. That rule he prized, by that he fear'd, He hated, hoped, and loved; Nor ever frown'd, or sad appear'd, But when his heart had roved. |