ODES.
85
STROPHE II.
Hither sent, who knows the day
When he shall be call'd away?
Various is the term assign'd:
An hour, a day, some months, or years, 36
The breathing soul on earth appears:
But, through the swift succession of mankind,
Swarm after swarm! a busy race,
The strength of cities, or of courts the grace, 42
Or who in camps delight, or who abide
Diffus'd o'er lands, or float on oceans wide,
Of them, though many here long-lingring dwell,
And see their children's children, yet, how few excell! 46
Hither sent, who knows the day
When he shall be call'd away?
Various is the term assign'd:
An hour, a day, some months, or years, 36
The breathing soul on earth appears:
But, through the swift succession of mankind,
Swarm after swarm! a busy race,
The strength of cities, or of courts the grace, 42
Or who in camps delight, or who abide
Diffus'd o'er lands, or float on oceans wide,
Of them, though many here long-lingring dwell,
And see their children's children, yet, how few excell! 46
ANTISTROPHE II.
Here we come, and hence we go,
Shadows passing to and fro,
Seen a-while, forgotten soon:
But thou, to fair distinction born, 50
Thou Cowper, beamy in the morn
Of life, still brightening to the pitch of noon,
Scarce verging to the steep decline,
Hence summon'd while thy vertues radiant shine, 54
Here we come, and hence we go,
Shadows passing to and fro,
Seen a-while, forgotten soon:
But thou, to fair distinction born, 50
Thou Cowper, beamy in the morn
Of life, still brightening to the pitch of noon,
Scarce verging to the steep decline,
Hence summon'd while thy vertues radiant shine, 54
Thou
