ANELEGYUPONSTEPHENDUCK.InmurmuringStrains,IlatelyhearditSaid,TheMuse'sDarling,ReverendDuckisdead.ImpartialDeathbyoneuntimelyblowHassnatch'dawayfromMortalsherebelow,Thatwond'rousMan,inwhomalonedidjoinAThresher,Poet,Courtier,andDivine.AndwhileaLabourerofmeandegree,TheOrnament,andGraceofPovertyUponthatStateinhighandloftyRhime,BravelyattemptsParnassus'sHilltoClime;AndquicklyafterbyFame'sloudReport,Remov'dfromhislowlyCotandcall'dtoCourt.AGraciousQueenQueen Caroline whom he had enchanted with his poetry as she was one of his most significant patrons.beingcharm'dwiththeLyre,WhileNoblePeershisNat'ralpartsAdmire;Advanc'd,caress'd,andfavour'dmoreandmore,NorceasedtilltheRev'rendGownhewore.ImmortalDuckhowhappyhadstthoubeenBelov'dbyLordsRespectedbyaQueen?HowdoublyBlestcouldstthouhavekeptwiththee,ThesweetcompanionofthyPoverty?Thattruecontentandinwardpeaceofmind,WhichinthyhumbleCottagethoudidstfind.WhichoftdothtothepoorandmeanretreatButseldomdwellsamongtheRich,orGreat.Thewantofwitthypleasureturndtopain,ThyLifeaBurthen,andthyDeathaStain:SohaveISeeninafairSummersMorn,BrightPhoebus'sBeamstheHillsandDalesadorn,WithFlow'rsandShrubstheirfragrantSweetsdisplay,AndWarblingBirdsforetellaChearfullDay:WhenonaSuddensomedarkCloudsarise,ObscurestheSunandoverspreadstheSkies;TheBirdsareSilent,plantscontracttheirbloom,TheGloriousDayendsinadismalgloom.