Can a truth, by all confess'd Pleasure's call attention wins, Death and Judgment, Heaven and Hell- No more move us than the bell, O then, ere the turf or tomb Make us learn that we must die. ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1792. Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas, Subjecit pedibus, strepitumque Acherontis avari !-Virg THANKLESS for favours from on high, But he, not wise enough to scan To ages if he might. To ages in a world of pain, To ages where he goes Gall'd by affliction's heavy chain, And hopeless of repose, Strange fondness of the human heart, Strange world! that costs it so much smart, Whence has the world her magic power? Why deem we death a foe? The cause is Conscience-Conscience oft Then, anxious to be longer spared, 'Tis judgment shakes him; there's the fear He has incurr'd a long arrear, And must despair to pay. Pay!-follow Christ, and all is paid; ON A SIMILAR OCCASION. FOR THE YEAR 1793. De sacris autem hæc sit una sententia, ut conserventur.-Cic. de Leg. "But let us all concur in this one sentiment, that things sacred be inviolate. He lives, who lives to God alone, For other source than God is none To live to God is to requite His love as best we may; To make his precepts our delight, But life, within a narrow ring Is falsely named, and no such thing, Can life in them deserve the name, For what poor toys they can disclaim Who, much diseased, yet nothing feel; Who deem his house a useless place, Who trample order; and the day, If scorn of God's commands, impress'd Such want it, and that want, uncured Till man resigns his breath, Speaks him a criminal, assured Of everlasting death. Sad period to a pleasant course! Yet so will God repay Sabbaths profaned without remorse, And mercy cast away INSCRIPTION FOR THE TOMB OF MR. HAMILTON, PAUSE here and think: a monitory rhyme Consult life's silent clock, thy bounding vein : And many a tomb, like Hamilton's, aloud EPITAPH ON A HARE. HERE lies, whom hound did ne'er pursue, Old Tiney, surliest of his kind, Who nursed with tender care, Though duly from my hand he took He did it with a jealous look, His diet was of wheaten bread, With sand to scour his maw. On twigs of hawthorn he regaled; And, when his juicy salads fail'd, Sliced carrot pleased him well. A Turkey carpet was his lawn, Whereon he loved to bound, But most before approaching showers, Eight years and five round rolling moons And every night at play. I kept him for his humour's sake, My heart of thoughts, that made it ache, But now beneath his walnut shade EPITAPHIUM ALTERUM. HIC etiam jacet, Puss. Qui præteriturus es, Et tecum sic reputa: Hunc neque canis venaticus, Nec in bres nimii, Confecêre: Tatem mortuus est Et moriar ego. S |