While costly physick tends the couch of state,
Cold, cold, this night, and comfortless your fate,
No dose to lull, no potion to sustain,
But the deep thunder, and the rattling rain!

Oh! Saving P OWER , when rough inclement hail,
And showery sleet, the wand'ring L AMB assail!
At midnight o'er the distant mountain stray'd;
To T HEE he bleats, nor bleats in vain for aid,
Thy impulse soft to some thick shelter guides,
Dries the wet turf, the wholesome herb provides,
Nor leaves thy harmless trust, till, pacing by,
The shepherd marks him with a careful eye.
Yet, melancholy thought, shall Man not hear
Thy sweet embosom'd accents whisp'ring near,
Shall hapless Man , with solitary moan
Destin'd to die, escape thy gaze alone;
Oh! wilt not T HOU by the hard pillow stand,
Blend the cool draught, and stretch the healing hand?
All kindness T HOU , T HY intervening form
Alike defends the warrior and the worm,
The dole of Good in just libration weighs,
Nor plunders T HOSE to dissipate on T HESE ;
From Man , base fellow Man , all sorrows spring,
'Tis his ungentle slight imprints the sting,
H E tears the wound, his skill alone can close,
'Tis H E that revels in a B ROTHER'S woes!

Branded with all the curses of the dead,
Hide, villain, hide thy pestilential head,
Whose latent wile, and unsuspected snare,
Has at A FFLICTION'S threshold fix'd D ESPAIR ;
Ne'er to offended M ERCY , impious, dare
In death's frore grasp to violate a pray'r,
At thy dark deeds the palsy'd cheek is pale,
The stiff blood curdles at the infernal tale,
To salvage wastes begone, where human eye
May ne'er thy desecrated hovel spy,
Where the gaunt wolf, and shaggy bear may be
For thy profane retreat, fit company!