| J. C. Squire, ed. A Book of Women’s Verse. 1921. | | | | Verses, written on her Death-bed at Bath to her Husband in London | | By Hon. Mary Monk (?–1715) |
| | | THOU who dost all my worldly thoughts employ, | |
| Thou pleasing source of all my earthly joy, | |
| Thou tenderest husband and thou dearest friend, | |
| To thee this first, this last adieu I send! | |
| At length the conqueror death asserts his right, | 5 |
| And will for ever veil me from thy sight; | |
| He wooes me to him with a cheerful grace, | |
| And not one terror clouds his meagre face; | |
| He promises a lasting rest from pain, | |
| And shews that all life’s fleeting joys are vain; | 10 |
| Th’ eternal scenes of heaven he sets in view, | |
| And tells me that no other joys are true. | |
| But love, fond love, would yet resist his power, | |
| Woud fain awhile defer the parting hour; | |
| He brings thy mourning image to my eyes, | 15 |
| And would obstruct my journey to the skies. | |
| But say, thou dearest, thou unwearied friend! | |
| Say, should’st thou grieve to see my sorrows end? | |
| Thou know’st a painful pilgrimage I’ve past; | |
| And should’st thou grieve that rest is come at last? | 20 |
| Rather rejoice to see me shake off life, | |
| And die as I have liv’d, thy faithful wife. | | | | |
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