Lively he seem'd, and spoke of all he knew, 240 The friendly many, and the favourite few; Nor one that day did he to mind recall But she has treasured, and she loves them all; When in her way she meets them, they appear Peculiar people--death has made them dear. He named his friend, but then his hand she press'd, And fondly whisper'd, "Thou must go to rest;" "I go," he said; but, as he spoke, she found His hand more cold, and fluttering was the sound! Then gazed affrighten'd; but she caught a last, 250 A dying look of love--and all was past! She placed a decent stone his grave above, Neatly engraved--an offering of her love; For that she wrought, for that forsook her bed, Awake alike to duty and the dead; She would have grieved, had friends presumed to spare The least assistance--'twas her proper care. Here will she come, and on the grave will sit, Folding her arms, in long abstracted fit; But if observer pass, will take her round, 260 And careless seem, for she would not be found; Then go again, and thus her hour employ, While visions please her, and while woes destroy. Forbear, sweet maid! nor be by fancy led To hold mysterious converse with the dead; For sure at length thy [thoughts'], thy [spirit's] pain In this sad conflict will disturb thy brain. All have their tasks and trials; thine are hard, But short the time, and glorious the reward: Thy patient spirit to thy duties give; 270 Regard the dead, but to the living live[43]. NOTES TO LETTER II. [39] Note 1, page 296, lines 55 and 56. _In three short hours shall thy presuming hand_ _Th' effect of three slow centuries command?_ If it should be objected, that centuries are not slower than hours, because the speed of time must be uniform, I would answer, that I understand so much, and mean that they are slower in no other sense, than because they are not finished so soon. [40] Note 2, page 296, line 68. _Can the small germ upon the substance view._ This kind of vegetation, as it begins upon siliceous stones, is very thin, and frequently not to be distinguished from the surface of the flint. The byssus jolithus of Linnæus (lepraria jolithus of the present system), an adhesive carmine crust on rocks and old buildings, was, even by scientific persons, taken for the substance on which it spread. A great variety of these minute vegetables are to be found in some parts of the coast, where the beach, formed of stones of various kinds, is undisturbed, and exposed to every change of weather; in this situation the different species of lichen, in their different stages of growth, have an appearance interesting and agreeable even to those who are ignorant of, and indifferent to, the cause. [41] Note 3, page 297, lines 87 and 88.