Sweet flower untimely torn from life In virtues course mature Short is thy race, but glorious as the sun(light) Thy innocence more fragrant than the morn Shall rise in spotless incense to the skies Sweet babes imprint her image on your hearts Copy her bright unsullied life in yours Her smile was charity her heart all love Her lips drop’d comfort to the wounded heart Oh may her parting pangs be few Few as the stains, which sully her pure life. _Act_ _Scene I._ (_A grove._) (ELIZABETH, TIRZAH.) ELIZABETH. Farewell sweet fields deck’d in the pride of spring No more thy verdant charms shall meet my view Ye harmless flocks, no more my fond companions Shall ye delight me with your sportive gambols Another now must watch your tender lambs Another hand must guide you to the field And thou fair sun, bright image of our Maker No more thy beams shalt wake the joyous morn And light my eyes to greet this beauteous earth Farewell oh world, thy joys I know are fleeting But still entwine frail man around thy heart And is it Tirzah, is it a crime to love The tender reverend name of parent With such affection, such unbounded fondness That this torn heart, drawn by the ties of nature Cleaves fast to earth, and loses sight of heaven If tis a crime to love with so much ardour Why rests so many virtues on the passion And if our friendship ends with mortal being Why glows its flame more bright at death’s approach. TIRZAH. Friendship and filial love my dear Elizabeth Will find a place no doubt in heavenly bosoms And if our fondness for our earthly friends Does not exceed the love of our Creator Tis innocent, nay more a lovely virtue A duty which commands a blessing on it. ELIZABETH. It is no crime I’m sure, to love a mother Fond and good as mine, to revere a father Whose stern virtues yield, in melting tenderness Towards his child. All other ties I quit Without a struggle, but these, these tear my heart And melt me quite to weakness. TIRZAH.