Funeral of a Youth

Verse 1

The morning flowers display their sweets, And gay their silken leaves unfold, As careless of the noontide heats, As fearless of the evening cold.

Verse 2

Nipt by the wind's unkindly blast, Parched by the sun's directer ray, The momentary glories waste, The short-lived beauties die away.

Verse 3

So blooms the human face divine, When youth its pride of beauty shows; Fairer than spring the colours shine, And sweeter than the virgin rose.

Verse 4

Worn by the slowly rolling years, Broken by sickness in a day, The fading glory disappears, The short-lived beauties die away.

Verse 5

Yet these, new rising from the tomb, With lustre brighter far shall shine; Revive with ever-during bloom, Safe from diseases and decline.

Verse 6

Let sickness blast, and death devour, If heaven must recompense our pains; Perish the grass, and fade the flower, If firm the word of God remains.