Page:Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.djvu/124

To His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, on the Death of his Lady. March 24, 1773.

ALL-conquering Death! by thy restless pow'r,
Hope's tow'ring plumage falls to rife no more!
Of scenes terrestrial how the glories fly,
Forget their splendors, and submit to die!

Who ere escap'd thee, but the saint^[1] of old

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Beyond the flood in sacred annals told,
And the great sage,^[2] whom fiery courses drew
To heav'n's bright portals from Elisha's view;
Wond'ring he gaz'd at the refulgent car,

Then snatch'd the mantle floating on the air.

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From Death these only could exemption boast,
And without dying gain'd th' immortal coast.
Not falling millions sate the tyrant's mind,
Nor can the victor's progress be confin'd.

But cease thy strife with Death, fond Nature, cease:

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He leads the virtuous to the realms of peace;

1. Enoch.
2. Elijah.