Oh! glorious labour of the soul to save Her captive powers, and bravely mourn the Brave. To such, these thoughts will lasting comfort give-- Life is not measur’d by the time we live; ’Tis not an even course of threescore years, A life of narrow views and paltry fears, Grey-hairs and wrinkles and the cares they bring, That take from Death, the terrors or the sting; But ’tis the gen’rous Spirit, mounting high Above the world, that native of the Sky; The noble Spirit, that, in dangers brave, Calmly looks on, or looks beyond the grave:-- Such MANNERS was, so he resign’d his breath, If in a glorious, then a timely death. Cease then that grief and let those tears subside; If Passion rule us, be that passion Pride; If Reason, Reason bids us strive to raise Our fallen hearts and be like Him we praise! Or if Affection still the soul subdue, } Bring all his virtues, all his worth in view,} And let Affection find its comfort too: } For how can Grief so deeply wound the heart, When Admiration claims so large a part? Grief is a foe, expel him then thy soul, Let nobler thoughts the nearer views controul! Oh! make the Age to come thy better care, See other RUTLANDS, other GRANBYS there! And as thy thoughts through streaming ages glide, See other Heroes die as MANNERS died: And from their fate, thy Race shall nobler grow, As trees shoot upwards that are prun’d below; Or as Old THAMES borne down with decent pride, Sees his young Streams run warbling at his side; Though some, by art cut off, no longer run, And some are lost beneath the Summer’s Sun-- Yet the pure Stream moves on, and as it moves, Its power increases and its use improves; While Plenty round its spacious waves bestow, Still it flows on, and shall for ever flow. [Illustration: text decoration] THE PARISH REGISTER: A Poem. IN THREE PARTS. PART I. ARGUMENT. The Village Register considered, as containing principally the Annals of the Poor.--State of the Peasantry as meliorated by Frugality and Industry.--The Cottage of an industrious Peasant; its Ornaments.--Prints and Books.--The Garden; its Satisfactions.--The state of the Poor when improvident and vicious.--The Row or Street, and its Inhabitants.--The Dwelling of One of these.--A Public-House.--Garden and its Appendages.--Gamesters; rustic Sharpers, &c.--Conclusion of the Introductory Part. THE PARISH REGISTER. PART I. Baptisms.