Poems (Sewell)/An Elegy to the Memory of Lady Young
AN ELEGY,TO THE MEMORY OF A DEAR MOTHER,LADY YOUNG,OF CHERTSEY ABBEY.Sept. 1801.
Though Heaven recalls her from this world of woe,
Where Death shall lay our tend'rest wishes low,
Soft as the visions of celestial light,
A Mother's once lov'd image meets my sight!
Alas! how lately in the widow'd hour,
She came—a messenger of Mercy's power!
Torn from the darling object of my heart, an
She touch'd its wounds with soft sagacious art,
And with a look, where angel Pity glow'd,
She call'd the mourner to her kind abode.
Where Death shall lay our tend'rest wishes low,
Soft as the visions of celestial light,
A Mother's once lov'd image meets my sight!
Alas! how lately in the widow'd hour,
She came—a messenger of Mercy's power!
Torn from the darling object of my heart, an
She touch'd its wounds with soft sagacious art,
And with a look, where angel Pity glow'd,
She call'd the mourner to her kind abode.
For ev'ry woe her gen'rous bosom felt,
And in her smile a heav'nly sweetness dwelt;
Tho' form'd to grace the gay and festive hour,
She bless'd repose, and priz'd Reflection's hour;
And many a scene, by bounteous Nature grac'd,
She deck'd with charms of elegance and taste!
Ah! more she grac'd it, when the infant crew,
To share her gentle gifts with rapture flew!
And Mis'ry from her hand obtain'd relief,
With all that sympathy so dear to Grief—
Whilst here on earth—on earth she scarcely trod,
So perfectly she gave her soul to God!—
Firm and resign'd, with holy Faith to cheer,
The humble Christian bore her trials here;
And Patience with its mild celestial ray,
Shone o'er the eve of her departing day.
And in her smile a heav'nly sweetness dwelt;
Tho' form'd to grace the gay and festive hour,
She bless'd repose, and priz'd Reflection's hour;
And many a scene, by bounteous Nature grac'd,
She deck'd with charms of elegance and taste!
Ah! more she grac'd it, when the infant crew,
To share her gentle gifts with rapture flew!
And Mis'ry from her hand obtain'd relief,
With all that sympathy so dear to Grief—
Whilst here on earth—on earth she scarcely trod,
So perfectly she gave her soul to God!—
Firm and resign'd, with holy Faith to cheer,
The humble Christian bore her trials here;
And Patience with its mild celestial ray,
Shone o'er the eve of her departing day.
Oh ever-lov'd; and ever-honour'd shade!
Faint is the tribute by Affection paid;
But filial Love, with Virtue's precious tear,
Have meekly join'd on thy lamented bier!—
Tho' vanish'd hence, whilst Mem'ry's pow'r shall dwell,
Ne'er can my heart pronounce a last farewell.—
Still the dear Husband—still the Mother's form,
Must softly gleam thro' life's eventful storm!
And Hope celestial glows with fervent ray,
Though life and all its visions melt away.—
As pilgrims here, thro' thorny paths we roam,
But still Redeeming Love averts our doom,
And guides our footsteps to a brighter home!
Faint is the tribute by Affection paid;
But filial Love, with Virtue's precious tear,
Have meekly join'd on thy lamented bier!—
Tho' vanish'd hence, whilst Mem'ry's pow'r shall dwell,
Ne'er can my heart pronounce a last farewell.—
Still the dear Husband—still the Mother's form,
Must softly gleam thro' life's eventful storm!
And Hope celestial glows with fervent ray,
Though life and all its visions melt away.—
As pilgrims here, thro' thorny paths we roam,
But still Redeeming Love averts our doom,
And guides our footsteps to a brighter home!