Classic Poem

VERSES addressed to Mrs. F — — G and Mrs. J — — S .

When friendship such as yours inspires,
'Tis Virtue fans the poet's fires,
She tunes the voice, she bids us sing,
While rapture breathes from ev'ry string:

Then while my soul with fervor glows,
Accept the tribute as it flows,
'Tis holy friendship gilds the song,
'Tis friendship pure, sincere, and strong.

Sequester'd from the tinsel glare,
Of all that's rich, and all that's fair,
Of all that's vain, and all that's great,
Of all the proud parade of state —

You, shelter'd in yon lonely cell,
With contemplation choose to dwell,
Secure in friendship's sacred tie,
The varied ills of life defy.

When torrents deluge all the plain,
And hoarse winds harrow up the main,
When lightnings flash, and thunders roll,
And rock the skies from pole to pole —

Then Piety — celestial maid,
In heav'nly panoply array'd!
Descends — to thield the blest abode;
And raise the trembling soul to God:

She sooths the mind with zealous care,
Inspires the consecrated pray'r —
Assists the orisons to rise —
And wafts the incense to the skies.

Borne on devotion's ardent wing,
Your raptured spirits soar, and sing,
'Till op'ning on the mental sight —
Expand the visions of delight!

To you b'ess'd Pair , to you 'tis giv'n
To antedate the joys of heav'n,
To catch, with faith's discerning eye,
A glimpse of bright futurity.

What could enure you to sustain
An age of agonizing pain?
When nature, hopeless of relief,
Sinks — " in satiety of grief " —

Nought, save the lenient balm of love,
Descending from the source above;
Whence copious emanations flow,
On ev'ry suppliant child of woe.

When transient ease brings back the mind,
From meditation more refine'd,
Friendship displays her sov'reign pow'r, —
Diffusive, o'er the halcyon hour.

From earth, and earth-born joys apart,
She meets the mild, devoted heart,
The wearied pilgrim stops, and cheers;
Sad journeying in this vale of tears.

When nature shrinks, and faultring breath
Betrays the quick approach of death,
She smooths the couch, the head sustains,
And shares, and mitigates the pains:

And when the vital spirit's fled,
A while she hovers round the dead,
Expands her wings — then soars away.
To radiate in eternal day.