Eachfriend endeavoured to console the fair;
          Of sorrow, she’d already had her share: 
          ’Twas wrong herself so fully to resign;—­
          Such pious preachings only more incline
          The soul to anguish ’mid distractions dire: 
          Extremes in ev’ry thing will soonest tire.

          Atlength, resolved to shun the glorious light,
          Since her dear spouse no longer had the sight,
          O’erwhelmed with grief she sought Death’s dreary cell,
          Her love to follow, and with him to dwell.

          A slave, through pity, with the widow went;
          To live or die with her she was content;
          To die, howe’er, she never could intend: 
          No doubt she only thought about her friend,
          The mistress whom she never wished to quit,
          Since from her birth with her she used to sit. 
          They loved each other with a friendship true: 
          From early years it daily stronger grew;
          Look through the universe you’ll scarcely find,
          So great a likeness, both in heart and mind. 
          The slave, more clever than the lady fair,
          At first her mistress left to wild despair;
          She then essayed to soothe each torment dire;
          But reason ’s fruitless, with a soul on fire. 
          No consolation would the belle receive,
          For one no more, she constantly would grieve,
          And sought to follow him to regions blessed:—­
          The sword had shortest proved, if not the best.

          Butstill the lady anxious was to view,
          Again those precious relicks, and pursue,
          E’en in the tomb what yet her soul held dear
          No aliment she took her mind to cheer;
          The gate of famine was the one she chose,
          By which to leave this nether world of woes.

          A day she passed; another day the same;
          Her only sustenance, sobs, sighs, and flame
          Still unappeased; she murmur’d ’gainst her fate;
          But nothing could her direful woes abate.

          Anothercorpse a residence had got,
          A trifling distance from the gloomy spot;
          But very diff’rent, since, by way of tomb,
          Enchained on gibbet was the latter’s doom;
          To frighten robbers was the form designed,
          And show the punishment that rogues should find.

          A soldier, as a sentinel was set,
          To guard the gallows, who good payment met;
          ’Twas ruled, howe’er, if robbers, parents, friends,
          The body carried off, to make amends,
          The sentinel at once should take its place
          Severity too great for such a case;
          But publick safety fully to maintain,
          ’Twas right the sentry pardon should not gain.