Then doubtless many a trifler, on the brink Of this world's hazardous and headlong shore, Forced to a pause, would feel it good to think, Told that his setting sun must rise no more. Ah self-deceived! Could I prophetic say Observe the dappled foresters, how light They bound and airy o'er the sunny glade; One falls-the rest, wide scatter'd with affright, Vanish at once into the darkest shade. Had we their wisdom, should we, often warn'd, Die self-accused of life run all to waste? Sad waste! for which no after-thrift atones! Learn then, ye living! by the mouths be taught That, soon or late, death also is your lot, ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1789. -Placidaque ibi demum morte quievit. VIRG. There calm at length he breathed his soul away. "Worlds should not bribe me back to tread Again life's dreary waste, To see again my day o'erspread "My home henceforth is in the skies, So spake Aspasio, firm possess'd He was a man among the few Sincere on virtue's side; And all his strength from Scripture drew, To hourly use applied. That rule he prized, by that he fear'd, Nor ever frown'd, or sad appear'd, But when his heart had roved. For he was frail as thou or I, But when he felt it, heaved a sigh, Such lived Aspasio; and at last His joys be mine, each Reader cries, They shall be yours, my verse replies, ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, FOR THE YEAR 1790. Ne commonentem recta sperne. BUCHANAN. Despise not my good counsel. He who sits from day to day Hardly knows that he has sung. So your verse-man I, and Clerk, Duly at my time I come, Soon the grave must be your home, But the monitory strain, Oft repeated in your ears, Can a truth, by all confess'd Of such magnitude and weight, Grow, by being oft impress'd, Trivial as a parrot's prate? Pleasure's call attention wins, Hear it often as we may; New as ever seem our sins, Death and judgement, heaven and hell- No more move us than the bell O then, ere the turf or tomb Make us learn that we must die. ON A SIMILAR OCCASION, Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas, Happy the mortal who has traced effects To their first cause, cast fear beneath his feet, THANKLESS for favours from on high, But he, not wise enough to scan Would gladly stretch life's little To ages, To ages in a world of pain, To ages, where he goes Gall'd by affliction's heavy chain, And hopeless of repose. span Strange fondness of the human heart, Enamour'd of its harm! VIRG. Strange world, that costs it so much smart, And still has power to charm. Whence has the world her magic power? Recoil from weary life's best hour, The cause is Conscience :-Conscience oft Her tale of guilt renews; Her voice is terrible though soft, Then anxious to be longer spared, 'Tis judgement shakes him; there's the fear And must despair to pay. Pay?-follow Christ, and all is paid; 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 His love as best we may ; To make his precepts our delight, |