Lit. Museum, or Mo. Mag., p. 47, Jan. 1797, West-Chester.
[F. Matthisson, Wunsch an Salis. "Noch einmal möcht' ich, eh in die Schattenwelt....">[
BENEVOLENCE.
A Fable.
Imitated from the German of Gellert.
O'er Howard's tomb soft Pity weeps,
Bewailing still her favourite's fate;
And thence the Muse invokes her aid
Of kindred merit to relate.
Like him to sympathize with woe,
Like him to heal the broken mind;
And rear Affliction's drooping head,
Belinda's generous soul inclin'd.
But want of fortune oft, too oft,
Her charitable views withstood;
For what, alas! avails the will,
Without the power of doing good?
Her uncle dies and leaves his niece
A clear two thousand pounds per ann.
"Ah! now," she cries, "I'm blest indeed,
"I'll help the poor where'er I can."
Scarce had she spoke, when, at her door
An old decrepid wretch appears;
Bent on his crutch he begs an alms,
And moves her pity with his tears.