But here I saw it heave an heavy sigh
And thus in sweetest sounds it did reply:
"Ah! cease, Eliza! cease thy speech unjust.
" Thy heart has e'er fulfill'd its sacred trust;
"And ever will its tender mansion serve,
" Nor can it from thee this reproach deserve
"Against my dictates murmuring have I found
" Which thus has laid me bleeding on the Ground,
"Compare thyself in this same hour depriv'd
" Of this soft Heart, from whence all are deriv'd
"The same bewitching graces which adorn,
" And make thy Face appear like beauteous Morn:
"With me its brilliant ornaments are fled,
" And all thy features, like thy Soul, are dead.
"'Tis I that make thee others' pleasures share,
" And in a Sister's joy forget thy care.
"'Tis by my dictates thou art taught to find,"
"A Godlike pleasure in a godlike mind;
" That makes thee oft relieve a Stranger's woes,
"And often fix those friends, that wou'd be foes,
" 'Tis I that tremblingly have taught thine Ear
"To cherish Music; and 'tis I appear
" In all its softest dress, when to the Hearts,
"Of all beholders my dear Voice imparts
" Harmonic strains; 'tis not because 'tis fine,
"For ev'ry note that's felt is surely mine.
" In smoothest numbers all that I indite,
"For 'tis I taught thy fearful hand to write,
" My genius has with watchful care supplied.
"What Education to thy sex denied;
" Made Sentiment and Nature all combine,
"To melt the Reader in each flowing line,
" Till they in words this feeling truth impart,
"She needs no more who will consult the Heart;
" And own in reading what is writ by thee,
"No study ever cou'd improve like me.
" And when thy bloom is gone, thy beauty flown,
"And laughing Youth to wrinkled Age is grown,
" Thy actions, writings, friendship, which I gave,
"Still shall remain an Age beyond the Grave.
" Then do not thus displac'd let me remain
"But take me to thy tender breast again."