To a Lady on the Death of Her Husband

    A young physician in the dust of death：

    Dost thou go on incessant² to destroy，

    Our griefs to double，and lay waste our joy？

    Enough thou never yet wast known to say，

    Though millions die，the vassals³ of thy sway：

    Nor youth，nor science，nor the ties of love，

    Nor aught on earth thy flinty heart can move.

    The friend， the spouse⁴ from his dire⁵ dart⁶ to save，

    In vain we ask the sovereign of the grave.

    Fair mourner，there see thy lov'd Leonard laid，

    And o'er him spread the deep impervious⁷ shade；

    Clos'd are his eyes，and heavy fetters⁸ keep

    His sense bound in never-waking sleep，

    Till time shall cease，till many a starry⁹ world

    Shall fall from heav'n， in dire confusion hurl'd，

    Till nature in her final wreck¹⁰ shall lie，

    And her last groan¹¹ shall rend¹² the azure¹³ sky：

    Not， not till then his active soul shall claim

    His body，a divine immortal¹⁴ frame.

    But see the softly-stealing tears apace

    Pursue each other down the mourner's face；

    But cease thy tears，bid ev'ry sigh depart，

    And cast the load of anguish¹⁵ from thine heart：

    From the cold shell of his great soul arise，

    And look beyond， thou native of the skies；

    There fix thy view，where fleeter than the wind

    Thy Leonard mounts，and leaves the earth behind.

    Thyself prepare to pass the vale of night

    To join for ever on the hills of light：

    To thine embrace his joyful¹⁶ spirit moves

    To thee，the partner of his earthly loves；

    He welcomes thee to pleasures more refin'd，

    And better suited to th' immortal mind.