EPITAPH ON A GENTLEMAN'S SON O F NINE YEARS OLD. H BY J. CRADDOCK, Esq ERE refts the fairest Bud of Hope Who wished not to hear the Toll of a Bell on the Evening of the late Princess Dowager's Funeral. By J. CRADDOCK, Esq. ND why not hear the Sound of yonder Bell? It tolls a fober, awful, folemn Knell, A wifh'd-for Knell to Immortality. Think not a Round of Folly's mad Career, Can always fhield thee from Reflection's Pow'r; The Young, the Fond, the Rich, the Gay, muft fear, Too long regardless of an awful Hour. Think not that beauteous Form that now you wear, That Glow of Crimson-thofe inspiring Eyes Muft linger ever here-they all declare They speak aloud their Kindred to the Skies. Do not the Hour, the Day, the Month the Year All in their Course expire?-But all renew; All Nature, fhews alas! a Profpect drear; All Nature fhews there's Happiness in view. Long Long toft in Storms, do Mariners repine See their Hopes kindle as the Objects rise! And fhall my Fair, with brightest Hopes in Store, Not once look up beyond this barren Clod? Shall the alone her Destiny deplore, Her Anchor Heaven! and her Pilot God? EPIGR RAM ON THE Four Tranflations of HOMER. N Ogilby's dull Strains lay Homer dead; Hobbs tried in vain to make him lift his Head; He rose to live in Pope's immortal Verse, AN Ο NCE more the Sun his yearly Tour I usher'd in my natal Hour, A Prey to joyless Solitude; As then to joylefs Solitude a Prey, Now Mufe begin a more harmonious Lay. For lo! She comes: the Queen of Love Leading with gentle Hand a Bride, Blind to Events, in vain we pry Thro' future Life's myfterious Scene; Oft from the dark and fullen Sky Breaks forth a Sunfhine unforeseen, As now bright Hymen's Lamp, with fudden Blaze, Thanks that my once-thought cruel Fate, And, that Defire on Choice might wait, Referv'd me for maturer Age, When Truth and Friendship, and Affections pure, Thanks to the Mufe, that o'er my Birth The Wealth, the Pomp that others prize; 'Twas thus I pray'd, nor vain my Pray'r, Wife, faithful, amiable and good, Hence Æra of my Days proceed, Unwedded Hours the fame dull Circle run, ΑΝ |