ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1793. De sacris autem hæc sit una sententia, ut conserventur. CIC. DE LEG. But let us all concur in this one sentiment, that things sacred be inviolate. He lives, who lives to God alone, And all are dead beside; For other source than God is none, To live to God is to requite But life within a narrow ring Of giddy joys compris'd, Is falsely nam'd, and no such thing, Can life in them deserve the name, For what poor toys they can disclaim An endless life above? Who, much diseas'd, yet nothing feel; Much menac'd, nothing dread; Have wounds, which only God can heal, Yet never ask his aid? Who deem his house an useless place, Who trample order; and the day, If scorn of God's commands, impress'd On word and deed, imply The better part of man unbless'd With life that cannot die; Such want it; and that want, uncur'd Till man resigns his breath, Speaks him a criminal, assur'd Of everlasting death. Sad period to a pleasant course! Yet so will God repay Sabbaths profan'd without remorse, And mercy cast away. INSCRIPTION FOR THE TOMB OF MR. HAMILTON. PAUSE here, and think; a monitory rhime Consult life's silent clock, thy bounding vein; Seems it to say-" Health here has long to reign?" Hast thou the vigour of thy youth? an eye That beams delight? a heart untaught to sigh? Yet fear. Youth, ofttimes healthful and at ease, Anticipates a day it never sees; And many a tomb, like HAMILTON's, aloud Exclaims, "Prepare thee for an early shroud." EPITAPH ON A HARE. HERE lies, whom hound did ne'er pursue, Old Tiney, surliest of his kind, Though duly from my hand he took His pittance ev'ry night, He did it with a jealous look, And, when he could, would bite. His diet was of wheaten bread, And milk, and oats, and straw ; Thistles, or lettuces instead, With sand to scour his maw. |