"Nor here alone the virtue reign'd, By matter's cumb'rous form detain'd, But thence, subliming, and refin'd, Aspir'd, and reach'd its kindred mind. Caught in the fond celestial fire, The mind perceiv'd unknown desire; And now with kind effusion flow'd, And now with cordial ardours glow'd, Beheld the sympathetic fair, And lov'd its own resemblance there; On all, with circling radiance, shone, But, cent'ring, fix'd on one alone; There clasp'd the heav'n-appointed wife, And doubled every joy of life. "Here, ever blessing, ever blest, Resides this beauty of the breast; As from his palace here the god Still beams effulgent bliss abroad; Here gems his own eternal round The ring by which the world is bound; Here bids his seat of empire grow, And builds his little heav'n below. "The bridal partners thus ally'd, And thus in sweet accordance tied, One body, heart, and spirit live, Enrich'd by ev'ry joy they give; Like ECHO, from her vocal hold, Return'd in music twenty-fold. Their union firm, and undecay'd, Nor TIME can shake, nor POW'R invade; But, as the stem and scion stand Ingrafted by a skilful hand, They check the TEMPEST'S wintry rage, And bloom and strengthen into age. A thousand amities unknown, And pow'rs, perceiv'd by LOVE alone; Endearing looks, and chaste desire, Fan and support the mutual fire, Whose flame, perpetual as refin'd, Is fed by an immortal MIND. "Nor yet the nuptial sanction ends, Like NILE, it opens and descends, Which, by apparent windings led, We trace to its celestial head. The sire, first springing from above, Becomes the source of life and love, And gives his filial heir to flow, In fondness down on sons below; Thus roll'd in one continu'd tide, To TIME'S extremest verge they glide; While kindred streams, on either hand, Branch forth in blessings o'er the land. Thee, wretch! no lisping babe shall name, No late-returning brother claim; No kinsman on thy road rejoice, No sister greet thy ent'ring voice; With partial eyes no parent see, And bless their years restor'd in thee. "In age rejected, or declin'd, An ALIEN ev'n among thy kind, The partner of thy scorn'd embrace Shall play the wanton in thy face; Each spark unplume thy little pride, All friendship fly thy faithless side; Thy name shall, like thy carcase, rot, In sickness spurn'd, in death forgot.