And on thy self, undazzled, fix her eye.
Oh quicken this dull mass of mortal clay;
Shine through the soul, and drive its clouds away!
For thou art Light. In thee the righteous find
Calm rest, and soft serenity of mind;
Thee they regard alone; to thee they tend;
At once our great original and end,
At once our means, our end, our guide, our way,
Our utmost bound, and our eternal stay! 20
Composed c. 1710 First published 1717
ADRIANI MORIENTIS AD ANIMAM,
OR
THE HEATHEN TO HIS DEPARTING SOULAh fleeting Spirit! wandering fire,
That long hast warmed my tender breast,
Must thou no more this frame inspire?
No more a pleasing, cheerful guest?
Whither, ah whither art thou flying!
To what dark, undiscovered shore?
Thou seem’st all trembling, shivering, dying,
And wit and humour are no more!
Composed c. 1712 First published 1730
The Dying Christian to his Soul
OdeVital spark of heavenly flame!
Quit, oh quit this mortal frame;
Trembling, hoping, lingering, flying,
Oh the pain, the bliss of dying!
Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,
And let me languish into life.
[253–4]