WRITTEN IN VERY DEEP AFFLICTION. Isabella Kelly (née Fordyce) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T122123 Kelly, Isabella, 1759-1857. Collection of Poems and Fables on Several Occasions. London W. Richardson 1794 pp. 23-25. 72p.

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WRITTEN IN VERY DEEP AFFLICTION . Low on affliction's gloomy bed , Where sorrow holds her reign ; Where pleasure never deigns a glance , I pray for peace in vain : Far , far remote from joy , from hope , No soothing voice I hear ; Nor doth fair friendship lend one gleam , My fainting heart to chear . Ah fortune ! ever varying shade ! False , disappointing shrine ! To lure the young , believing heart , How bright thy prospects shine ! Contentment once illum'd my breast , No anxious care had I ; Serenest slumbers , sweetest rest , With dreams of peaceful joy . Returning morn new pleasures gave , I woke to soft delight ; But now my ev'ry blessing's fled , Day sinks in horror's night . Be still , some spirit whispers , cease , Thy suffering soon shall close ; I come to guide thy wandering feet To undistrub'd repose . Why start at death's approach , — drear shade , It leads to purer air , Immortal joys that never fade , No ill approaches there ! Come , fear me not ; tho' cold and pale , I now assert my claim : No guilt thy sinking soul alarms ; Why trembles then thy frame ? But hark ! some angel whispers , stay , Hope humbly that reward Promis'd to purity on earth , From Heaven's bright regard . Then raise thy poor dejected heart ; Remember there's a Power That gave thee being to be blest , But wisely hides the hour : In faith , hope , virtue , persevere , Nor yield to black despair ; For thy great Parent's arm will guide Each daughter of his care . Then let thy soul securely rest On that Almighty word That graciously dispenses good , And comfort will afford .