weak. With regard to the next particular, he said "I heartily forgive him ;" and upon mention of the last, he gently lifted up his hand, and letting it gently fall, pronounced these words, "God bless him." After about a fortnight's illness, and enduring excessive pains,' he expired, a little before eleven of the clock, on the night of Good Friday last, the 5th instant; and was decently buried yesterday, about six in the afternoon, in the chancel of this church, close by the remains of his lady, under the communion table. The clergy, who are the trustees for his charity school, and one or two more, attending the funeral: the last office at interment being performed by me, &c."2 The following inscription was placed over the grave of Young,3 by the direction of his son, but whether it was his composition, I am unable to say: 1 I find, says Mr. Jones, that opiates are frequently administered to him, I suppose to render him less susceptible of pain. His intellects, I am told, are still clear, though what effect the frequent use of opiates may by degrees have upon him, I know not. 2 For the particulars of Young's funeral, see Gent. Mag. vol. xxxv. p. 198. 3 Highmore painted the only portrait of Young known to exist. See Gent. Mag. Sept. 1817, p. 209; and Meme's Hist. of Sculpture, p. 216. NIGHT THOUGHTS. THE COMPLAINT. PREFACE. As the occasion of this poem was real, not fictitious, so the method pursued in it was rather imposed, by what spontaneously arose in the author's mind on that occasion, than meditated or designed; which will appear very 'probable from the nature of it: for it differs from the common mode of poetry, which is, from long narrations to draw short morals. Here, on the contrary, the narrative is short, and the morality arising from it makes the bulk of the poem. The reason of it is, that the facts mentioned did naturally pour these moral reflections on the thought of the writer. NIGHT I. ON LIFE, DEATH, AND IMMORTALITY. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ARTHUR ONSLOW, ESQ. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. TIR'D Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep! From short (as usual) and disturb'd repose, I wake, emerging from a sea of dreams At random drove, her helm of reason lost. Night, sable goddess! from her ebon throne, (That column of true majesty in man) Assist me I will thank you in the grave; But what are ye? Thou, who didst put to flight Primeval silence, when the morning stars, Exulting, shouted o'er the rising ball; O Thou, whose word from solid darkness struck That spark, the sun; strike wisdom from my soul; My soul, which flies to Thee, her trust, her treasure, As misers to their gold, while others rest. Thro' this opaque of nature, and of soul, This double night, transmit one pitying ray, To lighten, and to cheer. O lead my mind, (A mind that fain would wander from its woe) Lead it thro' various scenes of life and death; And from each scene, the noblest truths inspire. Nor less inspire my conduct, than my song; Teach my best reason, reason; my best will Teach rectitude; and fix my firm resolve Wisdom to wed, and pay her long arrear: Nor let the phial of thy vengeance, pour'd On this devoted head, be pour'd in vain. The bell strikes one. We take no note of time But from its loss. To give it then a tongue Is wise in man. As if an angel spoke, I feel the solemn sound. If heard aright, Where are they? With the years beyond the flood. How much is to be done? My hopes and fears Poor pensioner, on the bounties of an hour? How poor, how rich, how abject, how august, How complicate, how wonderful, is man! How passing wonder He, who made him such! Who centred in our make such strange extremes ! From diff'rent natures marvellously mixt, Connexion exquisite of distant worlds! Distinguish'd link in being's endless chain! Midway from nothing to the deity! A beam ethereal, sullied, and absorpt! |