Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
James Thomson. 17001748448. On the Death of a particular Friend
AS those we love decay, we die in part, | |
String after string is sever’d from the heart; | |
Till loosen’d life, at last but breathing clay, | |
Without one pang is glad to fall away. | |
Unhappy he who latest feels the blow! | 5 |
Whose eyes have wept o’er every friend laid low, | |
Dragg’d ling’ring on from partial death to death, | |
Till, dying, all he can resign is—breath. |