When time, with rapid ceaseless course,

Conducts to manhood's prime;

In thee we find a copious source
Of happiness sublime.

Oft shall this bosom heave a sigh

For her who doubled every joy.

When fell disease exerts its power,
And holds its torpid reign;

'Tis thine to mitigate the hour,

And soften every pain:

To smooth the restless bed of death,
And catch the last expiring breath.

From life's commencement to its close
To thee the task is given,

To meliorate our varied woes,
And form on earth a heaven.
Without thee 'tis a vale of tears,

But with thee Paradise appears.

For thee, base wretch! whose impious tongue

Hath sung of female guile,

Still rest assur'd on such a song

No muse will waste a smile.

They view thy labours with disdain,

Nor bless the rash, unhallow'd strain,

When Crito and his spiteful page

Shall be by all forgot,

Some bard shall sing in every age
Fair Woman's happier lot;

Her worth, her excellence proclaim,

And man shall venerate her name.

VERSES

TO AN OLD AND TRIED FRIEND.

FOR truest friendship, love sincere,

Unnumber'd acts of kindness shown;

Accept, I ask it with a tear,

The thanks which justly are thy own.

Long, long hast thou indulgent shared

My hours of bliss, my days of grief;

For all my sorrows kindly cared,

And to my troubles brought relief.

Whether again we meet or not

The powers above can only know;

But sure I am, whate'er my lot,

My heart with love for thee shall glow.

Farewell! one silent starting tear

My deep-felt gratitude shall own; But ah! the debt contracted here,

God can repay in Heaven alone.

STANZAS

TO AN AFFECTIONATE AND PIOUS PARENT,

ON THE DEATH OF HER CHILD.

WHEN good old Jacob mourn'd his child,

How bitter were the tears he shed!

With garments rent, in anguish wild,

He sorrow'd for his Joseph dead. He mourn'd his hopes for ever fled, And said that, even to his tomb,

Grief should bow down his aged head

For Joseph's melancholy doom.

N