But the monitory strain,

Oft repeated in your ears, Seems to sound too much in vain, Wins no notice, wakes no fears.

Can a truth, by all confessed

Of such magnitude and weight, Grow, by being oft expressed,* Trivial as a parrot's prate?

Pleasure's call attention wins,
Hear it often as we may;

New as ever seem our sins,

Though committed every day.

Death and Judgment, Heaven and Hell-
These alone, so often heard,

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No more move us than the bell

When some stranger is interred.

Oh then, ere the turf or tomb
Cover us from every eye,

Spirit of instruction! come,

Make us learn that we must die.

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* "Expressed," Eds. 1801 to 1806; "impressed," Ed. 1808,

and all subsequent editions.

ON A SIMILAR OCCASION.

FOR THE YEAR 1792.*

Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas,
Atque metus omnes et inexorabile fatum
Subjecit pedibus, strepitumque Acherontis avari!
VIRG. [Georg. 11., 490.]

Happy the mortal who has traced effects
To their first cause, cast fear beneath his feet,
And Death and roaring Hell's voracious fires!

HANKLESS for favours from on high,
Man thinks he fades too soon;
Though 'tis his privilege to die,

Would he improve the boon.

But he, not wise enough to scan

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His best concerns aright,

Would gladly stretch life's little span

To ages, if he might.

To ages in a world of pain,

To ages, where he goes

Galled by affliction's heavy chain,

And hopeless of repose.

10

Printed in 1801, 1803, and subsequent editions, as the first of the preceding similar poems.

"Best," Eds. 1801, 1803, one ed. of 1806, 1817, 1821, 1825, Dale; "blest," 1805, 1806, 1808, 1810, 1812, Southey, Grimshawe, Bell.

Strange fondness of the human heart,

Enamoured of its harm!

Strange world, that costs it so much smart, 15 And still has power to charm.

Whence has the world her magic power?

Why deem we death a foe?

Recoil from weary life's best hour,
And covet longer woe?

The cause is Conscience;-Conscience oft
Her tale of guilt renews:

Her voice is terrible though soft,
And dread of Death ensues.

Then anxious to be longer spared

Man mourns his fleeting breath: All evils then seem light, compared With the approach of Death.

"Tis Judgment shakes him; there's the fear That prompts the wish to stay:

He has incurred a long arrear,

And must despair to pay.

Pay-follow Christ, and all is paid;

His death your peace ensures;

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30

Think on the grave where He was laid,

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And calm descend to yours.

ON A SIMILAR OCCASION.

FOR THE YEAR 1793.*

De sacris autem hæc sit una sententia, ut conserventur. CIC. DE LEG. [Lib II., sec. xix.]

But let us all concur in this one sentiment, that things sacred be inviolate.

E lives who lives to God, alone,
And all are dead beside;
For other source than God is none,
Whence life can be supplied.

To live to God is to requite

His love as best we may :

To make his precepts our delight,
His promises our stay.

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But life, within a narrow ring

10

Is falsely named, and no such thing,

Of giddy joys comprised,

But rather death disguised.

Can life in them deserve the name,

Who only live to prove,

For what poor toys they can disclaim

An endless life above?

15

* Printed in 1801, 1803, and subsequent editions, as the

last preceding similar lines.

Who much diseased, yet nothing feel;
Much menaced, nothing dread;

Have wounds which only God can heal,
Yet never ask his aid!

Who deem his house a useless place,
Faith, want of common sense;
And ardour in the Christian race,
A hypocrite's pretence !

Who trample order; and the day
Which God asserts his own,
Dishonour with unhallowed play,
And worship Chance alone!

If scorn of God's commands, impressed
On word and deed, imply

The better part of man unblessed

With life that cannot die;

Such want it;-and that want, uncured

Till man resigns his breath,

Speaks him a criminal, assured
Of everlasting death.

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25

30

$5

Sad period to a pleasant course!

Yet so will God repay

And Mercy cast away.

Sabbaths profaned without remorse,

40