MEMENTO MORI.

WHERE'ER we go Death follows with his dart,

And aims his blow directly at the heart;

And though his coming we could always spy,
None can avoid him-'tis in vain to fly.
Although Asahel, swiftly as the roe,

And Saul, with more than eagle's speed, could go;
Yet they for Death could never run too fast,
But both became his helpless prey at last.
The Macedonian, once so known to fame,
Whose arms the wide extended world o'ercame,
Fell prostrate at the feet of conquering Death,
Nor could defend his own departing breath.
Death slew the victors of the East and West,
Nor spared of Esculapius' sons the best;
By him was Galen, with the rest destroy'd,
Whose healing art was once in vain employ'd.

We come into the world one way alone, But by a thousand, mortals hence have gone. Death came to Abel while he walk'd abroad, And met with Rachel when upon the road; Belshazzar, joining with the festive train, While in his cups, was seized upon and slain. When Dives in his robes a figure made,

Death came and took him in his vain parade;

And when the Fool had built his barns anew,
Death came and all his splendid schemes o'erthrew !
As fishers strike the salmon with their spear,

So death assaults us when most free from fear;
He comes by night, with soft and silent tread,
And strikes his victim while secure in bed:
Then deadly pains about the vitals creep,
As stole his foes on Samson in his sleep.

Light, then, thy lamp, the wedding garment wear; For God's inspection thy account prepare;

Each proper ornament with care put on,

Ere thou art call'd to stand before his throne.
Whether by day or night, by sea or land,
In town or country,-always ready stand.
Do all thy work while yet the day shall last,
Accept of grace, ere yet the time be past:
Gather thy manna with the rising sun,
And let thy heaven be now on earth begun;
Unto the marriage feast make haste to go,
And endless joy thy happy soul shall know.

END OF THE THIRD BOOK.

THE

VICAR OF LLANDOVERY.

BOOK IV.

Subject of the Fourth Book.

The various pieces which compose the fourth book, are confessedly MISCELLANEOUS; and yet this part of the work possesses a degree of unity, as it discovers the exercises of the christian mind, both in reference to the public welfare, and its own happiness in the divine favour. Here the Vicar is presented as the Jeremiah of Wales, lamenting national calamities, praying for their removal, and stirring up his countrymen to seek God by repentance and reformation.---The poem on the Great Plague that visited London in 1665, derives considerable interest from the tragical scenes it describes, and is not without value on account of its relation to an important event in our national history.

THE

VICAR OF LLANDOVERY.

BOOK IV.

ON THE RAINY SEASON, SCARCITY, AND DISTRESS OF THE YEAR 1629.

THO

HOU Ruler of heaven, of earth and the main,
Of wind and of weather, of tempests and rain!
Give heed to our cry, and our mournful request,

Who are by the storms and the season distrest.
The winds and the waves, and the fast-falling show'rs,
The stars in their courses, and heavenly pow'rs,
Against us with fell animosity fight,

And our great offences with famine requite!
The billows roar wildly, the firmament low'rs,
The clouds, heavy laden, oft burst into show'rs;
And for the loose lives, which so long we have led,
Whole rivers of wo are pour'd down on our head.

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