POETRY. 721 



Widows are here, who in their Huts were left, 

 Of Husbands, Children, Plenty, Ease bereft; 

 Yet all that Grief within the humble Shed 

 Was soften'd, soften'd in the humble Bed : 

 But here, in all its force, remains the Grief, 

 And not one soft'ning object for relief. 



Who can, when here, the social Neighbour meet i 

 Who learn the Story current in the Street? 

 Who to the long-known Intimate impart 

 Facts they have learn'd, or Feelings of the Heart?— 

 They talk, indeed, but who can choose a Friend, 

 Or seek Companions at their journey's end? 



Here are not those whom they, when Infants, knew; 

 Who, with like Fortune, up to Manhood grew ; 

 Who, with like Troubles, at old Age arrived ; 

 Who, like themselves, the Joy of Life survived ; 

 Whom Time and Custom so familiar made. 

 That Looks the Meaning in the Mind convey'd : 

 But here to Strangers, words nor looks impart - 



The various movements of the suft'ering Heart ; 

 Nor will that Heart with those Alliance own, 

 To whom its views and hopes are all unknown. 



What, if no grievous Fears their Lives annoy, 

 Is it not worse no Prospects to enjoy ? 

 'Tis cheerless living in such bounded View, 

 With nothing dreadful, but with nothing new ; 

 Nothing to bring them Joy, to make them weep,— 

 The Day itself is, like the Night, asleep : 

 Or, on the sameness, if a break be made, 

 'Tis by some Pauper to his Grave convey'd ; 

 By smuggled News, from neighb'ring Village told, 

 ^ews never true, or Truth a twelvemonth old ; 

 By some new Inmate doomed with them to dwell. 

 Or Justice come to see that all goes well ; 

 Or change of Room, or hour of Leave to crawl 1 



On the black Foot-way winding with the Wall, > 



'Till the stern Bell forbids, or Master's sterner call. ) 



Here, too, the Mother sees her Children train'd, 

 Her Voice excluded, and her feelings pain'd: 

 Who govern here, by general Rules must move, 

 Where ruthless Custom rends the Bond of Love. 

 Nations we know have Nature's Law transgress'd, 

 And snatch'd the Infant from the Parent's breast ; 

 Vol. LII. 3 A 



