Blair, Robert (1699-1746)

The Grave. A Poem.

London

Printed for M. Cooper

1743

"For part they must: Body and Soul must part; / Fond Couple! link'd more close than wedded Pair."

Sure! 'tis a serious Thing to Die! My Soul!
What a strange Moment must it be, when near
Thy Journey's End, thou hast the Gulf in View!
That awful Gulf, no Mortal e'er repass'd
To tell what's doing on the other Side!
Nature runs back, and shudders at the Sight,
And every Life-string bleeds at Thoughts of parting!
For part they must: Body and Soul must part;
Fond Couple! link'd more close than wedded Pair.
This wings its Way to its Almighty Source,
The Witness of its Actions, now its Judge:
That drops into the dark and noisome Grave,
Like a disabled Pitcher of no Use.
(p. 24, ll. 369-381)

Population::Couple

Reading

Over 100 entries in ESTC (1743, 1747, 1749, 1751, 1753, 1756, 1785, 1761, 1764, 1767, 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1776, 1777, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1788, 1789, 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800). Reprinted with great frequency after 1789.

Text from The Grave. A Poem. 4th ed. (London: Printed and Sold by J. Waugh, 1753).

See also The Grave. A Poem. By Robert Blair. (London: Printed for M. Cooper, 1743). <Link to ESTC><Link to 2nd edition in Google Books>

10/03/2013