The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) - Volume IV by Theophilus Cibber
page 46 of 367 (12%)
page 46 of 367 (12%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
the Christian religion for the Mahometan. The words with which the
Turkish general makes his exit from his prisoner are, Farewel, and think of death. Upon which the captive breaks into the following soliloquy, Farewel! and think of death!--was it not so? Do murtherers then, preach morality? But how to think of what the living know not, And the dead cannot, or else may not tell! What art thou? O thou great mysterious terror! The way to thee, we know; diseases, famine, Sword, fire, and all thy ever open gates, That day and night stand ready to receive us. But what, beyond them? who will draw that veil? Yet death's not there.----No, 'tis a point of time; The verge 'twixt mortal, and immortal Being. It mocks our thought----On this side all is life; And when we've reach'd it, in that very instant, 'Tis past the thinking of----O if it be The pangs, the throes, the agonizing struggle, When soul and body part, sure I have felt it! And there's no more to fear. 'The gentleman (continues Sir Richard) to whose memory I devote this paper, may be the emulation of more persons of different talents, than any one I have ever known. His head, hand, or heart, was always employed in something worthy imitation; his pencil, his bow (string) or his pen, each of which he used in a masterly manner, were always |
|