Tell, that while Love's fpontaneous fmile endears The days of peace, the sabbath of his years, Health shall prolong to many a festive hour Lo! at the couch where infant beauty fleeps, Her filent watch the mournful mother keeps; 225 She, while the lovely babe unconfcious lies, "Sleep, image of thy father, fleep, my boy + No figh that rends thy father's heart and mine; In form and foul; but, ah! more bleft than he ! 230 Thy fame, thy worth, thy filial love, at last, Shall foothe this aching heart for all the past With many a fmile my folitude repay, And chafe the world's ungenerous scorn away. 235 "And fay, when fummon'd from the world and thee, I lay my head beneath the willow tree; 240 Wilt thou, fweet mourner! at my ftone appear, And foothe my parted spirit ling'ring near? Oh, wilt thou come, at ev'ning hour, to fhed The tears of Memory o'er my narrow bed ; With aching temples on thy hand reclin'd, Muse on the last farewell I leave behind, Breathe a deep figh to winds that murmur low, And think on all my love, and all my woe?" 245 So fpeaks affection, ere the infant eye Can look regard, or brighten in reply; But when the cherub lip hath learnt to claim A mother's ear by that endearing name; 250 Soon as the playful innocent can prove A tear of pity, or a smile of love, Or cons his murm'ring task beneath her care, 255 Or lifps with holy look his ev'ning prayer, Or gazing, mutely penfive, fits to hear The mournful ballad warbled in his ear; How glows the joyous parent to defcry A guilelefs bofom, true to fympathy! B iij 260 Where is the troubled heart, confign'd to share Tumultuous toils, or folitary care, Unbleft by vifionary thoughts that stray To count the joys of Fortune's better day! The dim-ey'd tenant of the dungeon gloom, Warm from his heart the tears of rapture flow, And virtue triumphs o'er remember'd woe. Chide not his peace, proud Reafon! nor destroy The fhadowy forms of uncreated joy, 265 270 That urge the lingering tide of life, and pour 275 Spontaneous flumber on his midnight hour. |