WILL gentle Loudoun deign to lend an ear, When nature speaks, and sorrow drops a tear? Within your walls my happiness I found Luxuriant flourish, like the plants around: Blithe as the birds that perch on yonder spray, In joyous notes, I poured the willing lay. Beneath your roof these humble lines had birth, Whose honoured Patrons now lie low in earth; Or borne by Fate far from their native shore, With smiles auspicious glad my heart no more. Here youth and beauty, innocence and love, I joyed to see, to serve, and to approve: Here honoured Age to all around did show, That virtue's paths alone can bliss bestow: Here moral lessons spoke from every part, And peace and kindness wrote them on my heart. Hoary inhabitants around the place, Whose faithful services obtained that grace, Mid every comfort rural life affords, Shower prayers and blessings on its former Lords. To you the young are taught to lift the eye, Mild morning sun of their unclouded sky. Blest in a lot left nothing to desire, Those happy scenes did future hopes inspire, That thus my life in careless ease might run, My age supported by my master's son; In him, that goodness, and those virtues find, Which grateful numbers meet in you combined. Ah! like a changeful vision of the night, Those scenes are fled, and death appals my sight! Wherever I turn, lamented tombs appear, Or parting sails extort the bitter tear! To distant realms the darling child too gone; O guard him heaven, and let me weep alone! For every tear, let countless blessings fall On thy sad mother in thy grandsire's hall! Forgive, fair nymph, the dictates of despair; Grief flies, for comfort, to the tender fair. The good and great, we fondly think have powers, Can charm to ease our sad and anxious hours: Else why to you should I at Fate repine? The friends I mourn, alas! were doubly thine! For their dear sakes, bid lines they prized still live, And grant that shelter they no more can give. Yet, the sad verse how should you patronize That wakes up anguish in a heart at ease! For their dear sakes my prayers are ever thine, Nor can I more were your protection mine.