Lines Addressed to Mary Steele, 5 May 1773

No solid good from Earth born joys arise

The airy phantoms cheat our longing Eyes

Experience oft this Sacred truth impart

Best impress’d on this deluded heart

That real good & permanent delight

Dwells only in the blissful realms of Light

Thither my Wishes soar nor think it best

Here to enjoy this journey as thy rest

..........

All gracious heaven in wisdom has designd

Immortal Bliss for y^t immortal Mind

And destin’d us an equal Share of woe

To wean our hearts from vanity below

To prompt our wishes for a happier state

Where an Eternity of joys Complete

But ah how weak is each resolve of mine

Unless assisted by a power Divine

O be that power my constant guard & guide

By whom my every want is well supplied

Be grateful love & adoration mine

May tuneful praise with constant worship join

Indulgent heaven has crown’d my days with health

With a blest competence tho’ not with Wealth

With Friends endear’d by soft Affections ties

To them to me repeated Blessings rise

O be Unceasing praise my blest employ

Whilst the goods of providence enjoy

O my lov’d Friend thou welcome boon of heaven

Thy Friendship heightens every blessing given

O be my Silvia heavens peculiar care

May you in every needful blessing share

For you my friend the ardent pray’r shall rise

May heaven indulgent hear a suppliants cries

Yet long may our lov’d Theodosia live

And share those Mercys God alone give

Long may you know that kind parental care

Long live those friends whom justly we revere

But if far Different Wisdom has design’d

O may we still be patient & resign’d

Obedient bow beneath a Father’s rod

Prostrate adore the Sovreign hand of God

Of hope & resignation still possest

View all the wise degrees as right as best

......

The tear of simpathy sincere I lend

And feel the sorrows of my much lov’d friend

When anxious Care depress your pensive mind

Where every soft sensation is combin’d

Where tenderest love in sweet compassion flows

And melts in tears & feels for others woes

You share y^e pain in Agonies of grief

When art & med’cine yields no kind relief

Poignant I know the feelings of our heart

And wish in vain one comfort to empart

Text: Attwater Papers, acc. 76, II.B.2.(b); Whelan, Nonconformist Women Writers, vol. 4, pp. 202-03.