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" Not all this world's gay hopes, nor present charms, / Nor parents tears, nor a fond husband's arms, / Could stamp the least impression on her mind, / Or fix to earth a soul for heav'n design'd."

— Skinner, Rev. John (1721-1807)

Author

Skinner, Rev. John (1721-1807)

Work Title

A Monumental Inscription. [from Songs and poems, by the Rev. John Skinner. With a sketch of his life, by H. G. Reid]

Date

1859

Metaphor

" Not all this world's gay hopes, nor present charms, / Nor parents tears, nor a fond husband's arms, / Could stamp the least impression on her mind, / Or fix to earth a soul for heav'n design'd."

Metaphor in Context

Ye virgin tribe, whom chance may lead this way,
Where brightest beauty moulders into clay,
Behold this stone, nor be asham'd to mourn,
A while o'er Mary Alexander's urn--
Then pause a little, while these lines you read,
And learn to draw instruction from the dead--
She, who lies here, was once like one of you,
Youthful and blyth, and fair, as you are now:
One week beheld her a bright blooming bride,
In marriage pomp laid by her lover's side;
The next we saw her in death's livery drest,
And brought her breathless body here to rest.
Not all this world's gay hopes, nor present charms,
Nor parents tears, nor a fond husband's arms,
Could stamp the least impression on her mind,
Or fix to earth a soul for heav'n design'd;
Calmly she left a scene so lately try'd,
Heav'n call'd her hence, with pleasure she complied,
Embrac'd her sorrowing friends, then smil'd--and dy'd.