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Lines on the Death of Dr. Levett
CONDEMNED to hope’s delusive mine, | |
| As on we toil from day to day, | |
| By sudden blast or slow decline | |
| Our social comforts drop away. | |
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| Well tried through many a varying year, | 5 |
| See Levett to the grave descend; | |
| Officious, innocent, sincere, | |
| Of every friendless name the friend. | |
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| Yet still he fills affection’s eye, | |
| Obscurely wise and coarsely kind, | 10 |
| Nor, lettered arrogance, deny | |
| Thy praise to merit unrefined. | |
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| When fainting nature called for aid, | |
| And hovering death prepared the blow, | |
| The vigorous remedy displayed, | 15 |
| The power of art, without the show. | |
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| In misery’s darkest caverns known, | |
| His useful care was ever nigh; | |
| Where hopeless anguish poured his groan, | |
| And lonely want retired to die. | 20 |
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| No summons mocked by chill delay, | |
| No petty gain disdained by pride, | |
| The modest wants of every day | |
| The toil of every day supplied. | |
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| His virtues walked their narrow round, | 25 |
| Nor made a pause, nor left a void; | |
| And sure the eternal Master found | |
| The single talent well employed. | |
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| The busy day, the peaceful night, | |
| Unfelt, uncounted, glided by: | 30 |
| His frame was firm, his powers were bright, | |
| Though now his eightieth year was nigh. | |
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| Then with no throb of fiery pain, | |
| No cold gradations of decay, | |
| Death broke at once the vital chain, | 35 |
| And freed his soul the nearest way. | |
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