Village books

Verses sent by Lord Melcombe to Dr. Young



THE LAST DAY.

In Three Books.

Venit summa dies.--VIRG.


Book I.

Ipse pater, media nimborum in nocte, corusca
Fulmina molitur dextra. Quo maxima motu
Terra tremit: fugere ferae! et mortalia corda
Per gentes humilis stravit pavor.
VIRG.

While others sing the fortune of the great;
Empire and arms, and all the pomp of state;
With Britain's hero(1) set their souls on fire,
And grow immortal as his deeds inspire;
I draw a deeper scene: a scene that yields
A louder trumpet, and more dreadful fields;
The world alarm'd, both earth and heaven o'erthrown,
And gasping nature's last tremendous groan;
Death's ancient sceptre broke, the teeming tomb,
The righteous Judge, and man's eternal doom.
'Twixt joy and pain I view the bold design,
And ask my anxious heart, if it be mine.


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