Versos English William Smith On the same

English poem

On the same

by (1796–1887)

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O DEATH! could manly Courage quell thy Power, Or rosy Health protract the fatal Hour; Could Tears prevail, or healing Arts withstand Th' unsparing Ravage of thy wasteful Hand; Then MARTIN still had liv'd a Father's Boast, Nor had a Mother's fondest Hopes been lost; Then SMITH thy darling Youth, thy justest Pride, With Virtue's first Examples long had uv'd.

But he is blest where Joys immortal flow; Cease Tears to stream, be dumb the Voice of Woe. Releas'd from Vice, in early Bloom set free From the dire Rocks of this tempestuous Sea, The youthful Saint, in Heavn's ambrosial Vales, With Glory crown'd aetherial Life inhales. No more let Grief repine, or wish his Stay, In this dark Gloom, this Twilight of our Day. Rather we'll hail him fled from Night's Domain, Array'd in Light to tread the azure Plain. There Science dwells;—before the mental Eye Nature's stupendous Works unfolded lie, There Wisdom, Goodness, Power diffusive shine, And fire the glowing Breast with Love divine.