_Martial_ [Lib. v. Epigr. xliii.]. Nil negat, et sese vel non poscentibus offert. _Claudian_ [_in Eutrop._ Lib. i. v. 365]. Decipias alios verbis voltuque benigno; Nam mihi jam notus dissimulator eris. _Martial_ [Lib. iv. Epigr. lxxxix.]. Christian Charity anxious to provide for future as well as present Miseries--Hence the Hospital for the Diseased--Description of a recovered Patient--The Building: how erected--The Patrons and Governors--Eusebius--The more active Manager of Business a moral and correct Contributor--One of different Description--Good the Result, however intermixed with Imperfection. LETTER XVII. _THE HOSPITAL AND GOVERNORS._ An ardent spirit dwells with Christian love, The eagle's vigour in the pitying dove; 'Tis not enough that we with sorrow sigh, That we the wants of pleading man supply; That we in sympathy with sufferers feel, Nor hear a grief without a wish to heal. Not these suffice--to sickness, pain, and wo, The Christian spirit loves with aid to go; Will not be sought, waits not for want to plead, But seeks the duty--nay, prevents the need; 10 Her utmost aid to every ill applies, And plans relief for coming miseries. Hence yonder building rose: on either side Far stretch'd the wards, all airy, warm, and wide; And every ward has beds by comfort spread, And smooth'd for him who suffers on the bed. There have all kindness, most relief--for some Is cure complete--it is the sufferer's home: Fevers and chronic ills, corroding pains, Each accidental mischief man sustains; 20 Fractures and wounds, and wither'd limbs and lame, With all that, slow or sudden, vex our frame, Have here attendance--here the sufferers lie } (Where love and science every aid apply), } And heal'd with rapture live, or soothed by comfort die. } See one relieved from anguish, and to-day Allow'd to walk and look an hour away; Two months confined by fever, frenzy, pain, He comes abroad and is himself again: 'Twas in the spring, when carried to the place, 30 The snow fell down and melted in his face. 'Tis summer now; all objects gay and new; Smiling alike the viewer and the view: He stops as one unwilling to advance, Without another and another glance; With what a pure and simple joy he sees Those sheep and cattle browzing at their ease; Easy himself, there's nothing breathes or moves But he would cherish--all that lives he loves: Observing every ward as round he goes, 40 He thinks what pain, what danger they enclose; Warm in his wish for all who suffer there, At every view he meditates a prayer: