i8o4. ^i^gy 0" ^^^^' ^«>^c cf BfJforJ. 44 J 



In life's gay morn, bright did his beauties fliine, 



Each charm bloom'd fair, each virtue glow'd fercne ; 



Joy fmil'd around, Peace ftrew'd her fweets divine : 

 And Hope, exulting, hail'd the bright'ning fcciie. 



As youth roU'd on, ftill fair the profpect glowM, 



His noble form increafing charms aflum'd, 

 Truth fir'd his bread, love all its warmth bellow'd, 



And each lovM grace in fmiling fweetnefs bloom'd. 



To (lore his mind with wifdom's choiccft fweets, 



With ardour fir'd, and emulous to excel. 

 He fcience rang'd, explor'd the Mufes' feats. 



And roamM the haunts where Tafte and Genius dwell. 



In bloom of life, grac'd with each manly art. 



To grandeur, wealth, and rank's firft honours rais'd, 



Russel's * fam'd deeds infpir'd his gen'rous heart, 

 And all his virtues in his bofom blaz'd. 



, Eager the Patriot and the Sage to (land, 



Firm, brave, determin'd, and upright hs fhone •, 

 To check abufe, fubdue ufurp'd command, 



And guard the Laws, the Country, and the Tiironc. 



Bold to refift Oppreffion's tyrant fway. 



Applauding Senates hail'd his patriot drain : 



Exulting Freedom wak'd the daring lay, 



Difienfion ceab'd, and Fadion rag'd in vain. 



Keen to repel the proud invading foe, f 



And tenets crudi, which fociai blifs derange. 



Dauntlefs he dood, to ward the threaten'd blow, 

 Still Difcord's voice, and blad the ills of change. 



Yet, though he dirunk not from the warrior's toil, 

 His country's good dill form'd his glorious aim, 

 By 



* The" excellent William Lord Ruffel, v^'ho flourilhcd in i6So. Of 

 this Lord Ruffel his Grace was the great great grandfon. After his 

 death, his father, William the fifth Earl of Bedford, was created by- 

 King William, Marquis of Tavillock and Uuke of Bedford ; and a- 

 mong the motives for this promotion, affi^fncd in the patent, it is ob- 

 fervcd, — ' that this was not the leaft, that he was the father to the 

 Lord Ruffel, the ornament of his age, whofe name could never be for- 

 gotten, fo long as men preferved any eileem for fanftlty of manners, 

 greatnefs of mind, and a love to their country, conftant even to death. ' 



f On the threatened invafion of France, the Duke of Bedford join- 

 ed a Volunteer corpa, in which the Lord Chancellor of England alfo 

 v/as enrolled. 



