Part. Earth

Now to the Earth I turn my Eyes: And strange! what diff'rent Prospects rise! Here Honour glitters, Riches shine, And Pleasure's various Forms combine: There meagre Poverty, Disgrace, And sullen Griefs usurp the Place. Here Health her blooming Visage shews, Clad in the Lilly and the Rose: There Sickness groans and pines in Bed, And scarcely lifts his fainting Head. Here the unthinking jovial Crowd Dissolve in Mirth, and laugh aloud; While Music all her Charms employs To lull their Cares, and wake their Joys: But hark! how Melancholy moans, And solitary Sorrow groans, Here Luxury her Table spreads, And, squeamish, on her Dainties feeds: There Hunger gnaws, and starving Want Unpity'd vents his vain Complaint. Prophaneness lifts her impious Eyes, And mocks the Thunder of the Skies; Presumes with daring Tongue invoke The Vengeance of the ling'ring Stroke While here and there a pious Sigh, And humble Pray'r ascend the Sky; JEHOVAH hears, and with a Smile Lays the dread Thunder by awhile. The Ways of Vice are still pursu'd By the triumphant Multitude; Sin high-applauded walks the Street, And tramples Virtue with his Feet: Yet an unfashionable Few Virtue's untrodden Path pursue. These are the Pillars of the Land, And by their Pray'rs whole Nations stand; When they are gone, Wrath shall be hurl'd To blast and burn a guilty World.

Some now receive the vital Breath; Some gasping in the Pangs of Death. Some landing on th' eternal Shore, The Dangers of Life's Ocean o'er; While others ent'ring on the Stage Of Life, begin their youthful Age.