Quotes by Anna Seward

Not the slow Hearse, where nod the sable plumes,     The Parian Statue, bending oer the Urn,     The dark robe floating, the dejection worn     On the dropt eye, and lip no smile illumes; Not all this pomp of sorrow, that presumes     It pays Affections debt, is due concern     To the FOR EVER ABSENT, tho it mournFashions allotted time. If Time consumes, While Life is ours, the precious vestal-flame     Memory shoud hourly feed;—if, thro each day,     She with whateer we see, hear, think, or say, Blend not the image of the vanishd Frame,     O! can the alien Heart expect to prove, In worlds of light and life, a reunited love!

When Death, or adverse Fortunes ruthless gale,Tears our best hopes away, the wounded HeartExhausted, leans on all that can impartThe charm of Sympathy; her mutual wailHow soothing! never can her warm tears failTo balm our bleeding griefs severest smart;Nor wholly vain feignd Pitys solemn art,Tho we should penetrate her sable veil.Concern, een known to be assumd, our painsRespecting, kinder welcome far acquiresThan cold Neglect, or Mirth that Grief profanes.Thus each faint Glow-worm of the Night conspires,Gleaming along the mossd and darkend lanes,To cheer the Gloom with her unreal fires.