ON THE DEATH OF HIS MAJESTY (GEORGE THE THIRD)
WARD of the LAW!–dread Shadow of a King! Whose realm had dwindled to one stately room; Whose universe was gloom immersed in gloom, Darkness as thick as life o’er life could fling, Save haply for some feeble glimmering Of Faith and Hope–if thou, by nature’s doom, Gently hast sunk into the quiet tomb, Why should we bend in grief, to sorrow cling, When thankfulness were best?–Fresh-flowing tears, Or, where tears flow not, sigh succeeding sigh, 10 Yield to such after-thought the sole reply Which justly it can claim. The Nation hears In this deep knell, silent for threescore years, An unexampled voice of awful memory! 1820.