THE VISION. 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. 43-46. 72p.

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THE VISION . The moon had joined the splendid height , The world retired to rest , When William waked to weep the night , For cares disturbed his breast . Eliza's loss he mourned in vain , For death her eyes had closed , Silenced that tongue which soothed his pain , And every grief composed . Oh ! baneful death he still would say , Why did'st thou torture me ? My peace had never known decay , Fell tyrant , but for thee . My blest Eliza ! still he cries , Thou hast thy forfeit paid ; When lo ! before his wandering eyes , Appeared the conscious shade . Celestial charms adorned her face , The smile of peace she wore ; And whispered with angelic grace , " My William mourn no more . " Nay , start not love ! dispel all fear , " The messenger of peace , " I come to stop the gushing tear , " And bid thy mourning cease . " Did'st thou suppose relentless death , " Wou'd not his claim assert ? " Or did'st thou think the fleeting breath , " Wou'd never leave the heart ? " Oh ! cease to weep , to mourn forbear , " From sorrow I am free , " And smile at every earthly care , " Except the care of thee . " The gentle passion which we knew . " That cheers the guiltless mind , " Exalted still I feel for you , " In purity refined . " In those bright realms remote from woe , " Where suns eternal shine , " Imperfect bliss I only know , " While you for me repine . " I did not take a long adieu , " Thou wilt not long feel pain , " Thy friends must mourn , must weep for you , " And we shall meet again . " O'er all thy ways I kindly wait , " I ward each threat'ning ill ; " I'll guide thee in this erring state , " Thy guardian angel still . " And when thy soul is gently fled , " To those fine realms of day , " Some guardian spirit of the dead , " Shall watch thy sleeping clay . " Thou'st not forgot the awful hour , " When death assailed my heart , " When sternly he denied the power , " My wishes to impart . " Then hear me now , protect our race , " 'Tis thine to guide their youth ; " With love like this my memory grace , " Let this display thy truth . " But see — the gates of light unclose , " My love , a last adieu , " I go to undisturbed repose , " There wait to welcome you .