Some
Reflections
upon
hearing
the
Bell
toll
for
the
Death
of
a
FRIEND
.
By
Mr.
J.
G.
HARK
!
—
what
a
mournful
solemn
sound
Rolls
murm'ring
thro'
the
cloudy
air
:
It
strikes
the
soul
with
awe
profound
,
Affects
the
gay
,
—
alarms
the
fair
.
With
what
a
pathos
does
it
speak
!
Affecting
deep
the
thoughtful
mind
:
The
golden
schemes
of
folly
break
,
That
hold
in
glittering
snares
mankind
.
'Tis
Death's
dread
herald
calls
aloud
,
Proclaims
his
conquest
thro'
the
skies
:
The
sun
retires
behind
a
cloud
,
And
Nature
seems
to
sympathize
.
Reflect
,
ye
restless
sons
of
care
!
Your
vain
designs
his
hand
can
spoil
,
Make
hard
oppressors
lend
an
ear
,
And
wretched
misers
cease
their
toil
.
For
what
avail
vast
heaps
of
gold
,
When
Death
his
aweful
writ
shall
send
?
Tho'
folly
swell
,
and
pride
look
bold
,
The
mask
must
drop
,
the
farce
must
end
.
It
is
not
hoary
tottering
age
That
now
lies
stretch'd
beneath
his
stroke
;
The
tyrant
stern
,
that
feels
his
rage
:
Th'
oppressor's
rod
,
that
now
is
broke
.
But
oh
!
—
'tis
generous
Cynthio's
bell
!
Fall'n
in
his
prime
of
youthful
bloom
:
For
Cynthio
sounds
the
doleful
knell
,
And
calls
him
to
the
silent
tomb
.
Cynthio
!
—
whose
happy
healing
art
Turn'd
from
his
friends
death's
fatal
blow
,
And
shielded
from
that
threatening
dart
,
Which
now
,
alas
!
—
has
laid
him
low
.
But
Cynthio's
virtues
ne'er
can
die
,
They
leave
a
grateful
rich
perfume
:
And
now
transplanted
to
the
sky
,
In
heav'n's
immortal
gardens
bloom
.
And
hark
!
—
ah
,
what
celestial
notes
,
With
grateful
accents
charm
my
ear
!
As
down
th'
etherial
music
floats
,
The
sun
breaks
forth
,
the
skies
are
clear
.
From
heav'n
descends
the
joyful
strain
,
Convey'd
to
earth
on
angels
wings
:
To
mitigate
our
grief
and
pain
,
And
this
the
theme
of
joy
it
brings
:
"
Thus
write
(
the
voice
from
heav'n
proclaims
)
"
The
virtuous
dead
are
ever
blest
!
"
Their
works
immortalize
their
names
,
"
Their
labours
cease
,
and
here
they
rest
.
"
Behold
,
the
Saviour
wide
display
"
The
trophies
of
his
gen'rous
love
,
"
To
cheer
you
thro'
life's
thorny
way
,
"
And
lead
to
flowery
realms
above
.
"
'Tis
He
destroys
Death's
baneful
sting
,
"
And
bids
the
grave's
dread
horrors
fly
,
"
The
choirs
of
heav'n
his
triumph
sing
,
"
And
hail
him
victor
thro'
the
sky
.
"