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The Works of Robert Fergusson, to Which Is Prefixed, a Sketch of the Author's Life [by A. Peterkin].
The Works of Robert Fergusson to Which Is Prefixed a Sketch of the Author's Life - by A. Peterkin Author:Robert Fergusson General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1807 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: ODE TO PITY, To what sequestered gloomy shade Hath ever-gentle Pity strayed ? What brook is watered from her eyes ? What gales convey her tender sighs ? Unworthy of her grateful lay, She hath despised the great, the gay; Nay, all the feelings she imparts Are far estranged from human hearts. Ah, Pity ! whither wouldest thou fly From human heart, from human eye ? Are desert woods, and twilight groves, The scenes the sobbing pilgrim loves ? If there thou dwell'st, O Pity ! say, In what lone path you pensive stray ? I'll know thee by the lily's hue, Besprinkled with the morning's dew: For thou wilt never blush to vear The pallid look and falling tear. In broken cadence from thy tongue Oft have we heard the mournful song ; Oft have we view'd the loaded bier Bedewed with Pity's softest tear. Her sighs and tears were ne'er denied, When innocence and virtue died. But in this black and iron age, Where Vice and all his demons rage, Tho' bells in solemn peals are rung, Tho' dirge in mournful verse is sung, Soon will the vain parade be o'er, Their name, their memory, no more, Who love and innocence despised, And every virtue sacrificed. Here Pity, as a statue, dumb, Will pay no tribute to the tomb ; Or wake the memory of those Who never felt for others Woes. Thou mistress of the feeling heart i Thy powers of sympathy impart. If mortals would but fondly prize Thy falling tears, thy passing sighs; Then sh6uld wan Poverty no more Walk feebly from the rich man's door ; Humility should banish Pride, And Vice be drove from Virtue's side: T...« less