3-101-430 - "Royal Academy of Arts, London"/Heritage Images

Where darkness, brooding o'er unfinish'd fates..., 1797. '...With raven wing incumbent, waits the day, Dread day! that interdicts all future change! That subterranean world, that land of ruin! Fit walk, Lorenzo, for proud human thought! There let my thought expatiate, and explore Balsamic truths, and healing sentiments, Of all most wanted, and most welcome, here. For gay Lorenzo's sake, and for thy own, My soul! "the fruits of dying friends survey; "Expose the vain of life; weigh life and death; "Give death his eulogy; thy fear subdue; "And labour that first palm of noble minds - "A manly scorn of terror from the tomb." This harvest reap from thy Narcissa's grave. As poets feign'd from Ajax' streaming blood Arose, with grief inscribed, a mournful flower; Let wisdom blossom from my mortal wound. And first, of dying friends; what fruit from these? It brings us more than triple aid; an aid To chase our thoughtlessness, fear, pride, and guilt. Our dying friends come o'er us like a cloud, To damp our brainless ardours; and abate That glare of life, which often blinds the wise. Our dying friends are pioneers, to smooth Our rugged pass to death...' From "The Complaint, And The Consolation; Or, Night Thoughts", By Edward Young, LL.D. - [Richard Edwards, London: 1797] page 54.