Where pomp and ceremonies entered not, Where greatnefs was fhut out, and business well forgot.

This is the imperfect draught; but short as far

As the true height and bigness of a star

Exceeds the measures of the astronomer. 265She fhines above, we know; but in what place, How near the throne, and heaven's imperial

face,

By our weak optics is but vainly guest ;
Distance and altitude conceal the rest.

Though all these rare endowments of the
mind

Were in a narrow space of life confin'd,
The figure was with full perfection crown'd;
Though not fo large an orb, as truly round.

270

As when in glory, through the public place, The fpoils of conquer'd nations were to pass, 275 And but one day for triumph was allow'd, The conful was conftrain'd his pomp to crowd; And fo the fwift proceffion hurry'd on, That all, though not diftinctly, might be

fhown:

So in the ftraiten'd bounds of life confin'd, 280 She gave but glimpses of her glorious mind:

And multitudes of virtues pass'd along ;
Each preffing foremost in the mighty throng,
Ambitious to be seen, and then make room
For greater multitudes that were to come, 285
Yet unemploy'd no minute flip'd away;
Moments were precious in fo fhort a stay.
The haste of heaven to have her was fo great,
That fome were fingle acts, though each com-

But

pleat;

every

290

act ftood ready to repeat. Her fellow-faints with bufy care will look For her bleft name in fate's eternal book; And, pleas'd to be outdone, with joy will fee Numberless virtues, endless charity: But more will wonder at fo fhort an age, To find a blank beyond the thirtieth page: And with a pious fear begin to doubt The piece imperfect, and the reft torn out. But 'twas her Saviour's time; and, could there be A copy near the original, 'twas fhe.

295

300

As precious gums are not for lafting fire, They but perfume the temple, and expire: So was the foon exhal'd, and vanish'd hence; A fhort fweet odour, of a vaft expence. She vanish'd, we can scarcely fay fhe dy'd; 305 For but a now did heaven and earth divide: She pafs'd ferenely with a single breath; This moment perfect health, the next was death:

One figh did her eternal bliss affure ;

So little penance needs, when fouls are almost

pure.

S10

As gentle dreams our waking thoughts pur

fue;

Or, one dream pafs'd, we flide into a new ;
So clofe they follow, fuch wild order keep,
We think ourselves awake, and are asleep:
So foftly death fucceeded life in her:
She did but dream of heaven, and fhe was
there.

315

No pains the fuffer'd, nor expir'd with noise; Her foul was whifper'd out with God's ftill voice;

320

As an old friend is beckon'd to a feast,
And treated like a long-familiar gueft.
He took her as he found, but found her fo,
As one in hourly readiness to go:
E'en on that day, in all her trim prepar'd ;
As early notice fhe from heaven had heard,
And fome descending courier from above
Had given her timely warning to remove ;
Or counfell'd her to drefs the nuptial room,
For on that night the bridegroom was to

325

come.

Ver. 325.

defcending courier] The original edition by 3 laughable errour of the prefs-defcending courtier.

TODD.

He kept his hour, and found her where she

lay

Cloth'd all in white, the livery of the day: 330 Scarce had the finn'd in thought, or word, or

act;

Unless omiffions were to pafs for fact:

That hardly death a confequence could draw, To make her liable to nature's law.

And, that the dy'd, we only have to show 335 The mortal part of her she left below:

The rest, so smooth, fo fuddenly she went, Look'd like tranflation through the firma

ment,

Or, like the fiery car on the third errand fent.

O happy foul! if thou canst view from high, 340
Where thou art all intelligence, all eye,

If looking up to God, or down to us,
Thou find'st that any way be pervious,
Survey the ruins of thy house, and fee
Thy widow'd, and thy orphan family:
Look on thy tender pledges left behind;
And, if thou canft a vacant minute find

345

Ver. 341. Where thou art all intelligence, all eye,] Dryden perhaps had in memory, his master's defcription of fpirits, Par. L. B. vi. 350.

"All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear,
"All intellect, all fenfe

TODD.

From heavenly joys, that interval afford
To thy fad children, and thy mourning lord.
See how they grieve, mistaken in their love, 350
And fhed a beam of comfort from above;
Give them, as much as mortal eyes can bear,
A tranfient view of thy full glories there ;
That they with moderate forrow may fuftain
And mollify their loffes in thy gain.
Or elfe divide the grief; for fuch thou wert,
That should not all relations bear a part,
It were enough to break a single heart.

355

360

Let this fuffice: nor thou, great faint, refuse This humble tribute of no vulgar muse : Who, not by cares, or wants, or age deprest, Stems a wild deluge with a dauntless breast; And dares to fing thy praises in a clime Where vice triumphs, and virtue is a crime; Where e'en to draw the picture of thy mind, Is fatire on the most of human kind: Take it, while yet 'tis praife; before my rage, Unfafely juft, break loofe on this bad age; So bad, that thou thyself hadft no defence From vice, but barely by departing hence. 570 Be what, and where thou art: to wish thy place,

366

Were, in the beft, prefumption more than

grace.

Thy relics, (fuch thy works of

mercy are)

Ilave, in this poem, been my holy care..