VERSES
TO
THE
Memory
of
Miss
CLAYTON
.
If
ought
can
merit
thy
regard
below
,
If
when
this
life
,
its
hopes
and
fears
are
o'er
,
The
soul
retains
its
passions
,
or
can
know
What
storms
or
tempests
reach
our
distant
shore
;
View
this
fond
tribute
with
thy
wonted
love
,
And
whilst
the
Muse
attempts
the
solemn
strain
,
Leave
unenjoy'd
awhile
the
realms
above
,
And
to
my
Fancy
once
descend
again
.
Fancy
,
alas
!
to
Memory
ally'd
,
Thou
cool
disturber
of
our
calmest
days
!
How
dost
thou
oft
our
rising
transports
chide
!
And
steal
between
us
and
our
wish'd-for
peace
.
Still
,
but
for
Thee
,
regardless
might
I
stray
,
Where
gentle
Charwell
rolls
her
silent
tide
;
And
wear
at
ease
my
span
of
life
away
,
As
I
was
wont
,
when
Thou
wert
by
my
side
.
But
now
no
more
the
limpid
streams
delight
,
No
more
at
ease
unheeding
do
I
stray
;
Pleasure
and
Thou
are
vanish'd
from
my
sight
,
And
life
,
a
span
!
too
slowly
hastes
away
.
Yet
if
thy
friendship
lives
beyond
the
dust
,
Where
all
things
else
in
peace
and
silence
lie
,
I'll
seek
Thee
there
,
among
the
Good
and
Just
,
'Mong
those
who
living
wisely
—
learnt
to
die
.
And
if
some
friend
,
when
I'm
no
more
,
should
strive
To
future
times
my
mem'ry
to
extend
,
Let
this
inscription
on
my
tomb
survive
,
"
Here
rest
the
ashes
of
a
faithful
friend
.
"
A
little
while
,
and
lo
!
I
lay
me
down
,
To
land
in
silence
on
that
peaceful
shore
,
Where
never
billows
beat
,
or
tyrants
frown
,
Where
we
shall
meet
again
,
to
part
no
more
.