POETRY. 919 



17. 

 Like Tadmor's king, his comprehensive mind 

 Each plant's peculiar charafter could seize. 

 And hence his moralizing muse had join'd 

 To all these flowers a thousand similies. 



18. 

 But he, alas ! in distant village grave, 



Has laid with dear maternal dust his own : 

 E'en now the pang which parting friendship gave 

 Thrills at my heart, and tells me he is gone. 



19. 

 Take then from me the pensive strain that flows 



Congenial to this consecrated gloom. 

 Where all that meets my eye some symbol shows 

 Of grief, like mine, that lives beyond the tomb. 



20. 

 Shows me that you, though doom'd the live-long year 



For scanty food the toiling arm to ply. 

 Can smite your breasts, and find an inmate there 

 To heave, when memory bids, the ready sigh. 



21. 

 Still nurse that best of inmates, gentle swains! 



Still aa as heart-felt sympathy inspires ; 

 The taste that birth from education gains 

 Serves but to chill affe<5lion's native fires. 



22. 

 To you more knowledge than what shields from vice 



Were but a gift to multiply your cares ; 

 Of matter and of mind let reasoner's nice 



Dispute, be patience yours, presumption theirs. 



23. 

 You know, (what more can earthly science know .) 



That all must die ! by revelation's ray 

 Illum'd, you trust the ashes plac'd below 

 These flowery tufts shall rise to endless day. 



24. 

 What if you deem, by hoar tradition led, 



To you perchance devolv'd from druids old. 

 That parted souls at solemn seasons tread 

 The circles that their shrines of clay enfold : 



25. 

 What if you deem they some sad pleasure take 

 These poor memorials of your love to view, 

 A.nd scent the perfume for the planter's sake, 

 That breaths from vulgar rosemary and rue. 



26. 

 Unfeeling wit may scorn, and pride may frown, 



Yet fancy, empress of the rcaJms of song, 

 Shall bless the decent mode, and reason own ^ 



It may be right,— for who can prove it wrong . ^^^ 



