Ode
Written in the Beginning of the Year 1746
How sleep the brave, who sink to rest,
By all their country’s wishes bless’d!
When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their hallow’d mould,
She then shall dress a sweeter sod
She there shall dress a sweeter sod 5
Than Fancy’s feet have ever trod.
By hands unseen the knell is rung;
By fairy hands their knell is rung;
By fairy forms their dirge is sung;
By forms unseen their dirge is sung;
There Honour comes, a pilgrim-gray,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay; 10
And Freedom shall awhile repair,
To dwell a weeping hermit there!