An ELEGY on Mrs. THOMPSON

Unhappy fair! by fatal love betray'd! Must then thy beauties thus untimely fade? And all thy blooming soft inspiring charms, Become a prey to death's destructive arms? Tho' short thy day, and transient like the wind, How far more blest than those yet left behind! Safe in the grave, thy griefs with thee remain; And life's tempestuous billows break in vain. Ye tender nymphs in lawless pastimes gay, Who heedless down the paths of pleasure stray; Tho' long secure, with blissful joy elate, Yet pause, and think of Arabella's fate: For such may be your unexpected doom, And your next slumbers lull you in the tomb. But let it be the muse's gentle care To shield from envy's rage the mouldering fair: To draw a veil o'er faults she can't defend; And what prudes have devour'd, leave time to end: Be it her part to drop a pitying tear, And mourning sigh around thy sable bier. Nor shall thy woes long glad th' ill natur'd crowd, Silent to praise, and in detraction loud: When scandal, that thro' life each worth destroys, And malice that imbitters all our joys, Shall in some ill starr'd wretch find later stains; And let thine rest, forgot as thy remains.