Ode XVIII; Written on the Death of John Howard
ODE XVIII.
WRITTEN ON THE DEATH OF JOHN HOWARD, AT HIS VILLA AT
CARDINGTON, IN BEDFORDSHIRE .
H ARD is the lot of meek PHILANTHROPY ,
Who braves in slender bark the ruffian wave,
Eager the shipwreck'd mariner to save,
Unknown the latent dangers of the sea!
There rocks insidious lurk at midnight drear,
Or ocean boisterous raves, and wild winds roar,
Dashing the thick oose on the sounding shore: —
Down, down she sinks, no guardian angel near!
Ah! thus oft falls the friend of human kind:
P RUDENCE and Pride , expand your silken sail
O'er halcyon streams; coax every saucy wind,
And Fortune's mirthsome crew in passing hail.
Pour, too, from niggard hearts the frugal sigh,
And measure out the prayer, for well ye can,
And grieve, that man, poor man, so soon should die:
Thus live — YOUR OWN DEAR FRIENDS ; but not the FRIENDS of MAN .
WRITTEN ON THE DEATH OF JOHN HOWARD, AT HIS VILLA AT
CARDINGTON, IN BEDFORDSHIRE .
H ARD is the lot of meek PHILANTHROPY ,
Who braves in slender bark the ruffian wave,
Eager the shipwreck'd mariner to save,
Unknown the latent dangers of the sea!
There rocks insidious lurk at midnight drear,
Or ocean boisterous raves, and wild winds roar,
Dashing the thick oose on the sounding shore: —
Down, down she sinks, no guardian angel near!
Ah! thus oft falls the friend of human kind:
P RUDENCE and Pride , expand your silken sail
O'er halcyon streams; coax every saucy wind,
And Fortune's mirthsome crew in passing hail.
Pour, too, from niggard hearts the frugal sigh,
And measure out the prayer, for well ye can,
And grieve, that man, poor man, so soon should die:
Thus live — YOUR OWN DEAR FRIENDS ; but not the FRIENDS of MAN .
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