Death & Dying

England! kind parent! Freedom's fav'rite trust

by William Hayley 1745–1820

From An Essay on Sculpture (1800)

Death & Dying

England! kind parent! Freedom's fav'rite trust!
Honour's prime pupil! Nature's noblest care!
Thy feelings rapid as thy virtues rare!
Blame not my pride, that o'er the filial dust
Of youth, now claiming the sepulchral bust,
I ask thy spirit in my grief to share!
For like thy heart and mind His truly were—
Brave, modest, tender, charitable, just!
His docile genius with fond joy I train'd
To love thy glory, and thy faith revere;
Nor will I murmur, though my frequent tear
Proclaims the Dead, unutterably dear:
So may I share with him, what he has gain'd,
The recompence of Heaven for anguish well sustain'd!

MLA

Hayley, William. “England! kind parent! Freedom's fav'rite trust.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/hayley/49/.

Chicago

Hayley, William. “England! kind parent! Freedom's fav'rite trust.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/hayley/49/.

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