Amer. Museum, I-474, May 1787, Phila.
WERTER'S EPITAPH.
I
Stranger! whoe'er thou art, that from below
This grass-green hill, with steady steps dost press;
Shed sympathetic tears; for stranger know,
Here lies the son of sorrow and distress.
II
Although his soul with ev'ry virtue mov'd,
Tho' at his birth deceitful fortune smil'd,
In one sad hour, too fatally he lov'd;
False fortune frown'd, and he was sorrow's child.
III
Heav'n gave him passions, as she virtue gave,
But gave not pow'r those passions to suppress:
By them subdu'd he slumbers in the grave—
The soul's last refuge from terrene distress.
IV
Around his tomb, the sweetest grass shall spring;
And annual flowers shall ever blossom here;
Here fairy forms their loveliest gifts shall bring,
And passing strangers shed the pitying tear.
Amer. Museum, I-474, May 1787, Phila.
[Dr. Ladd, Werter's Epitaph.]
DESCENT OF ODIN. AN ODE.
New Haven Gaz. and Conn. Mag., III-No. 21, May 29, 1788, New Haven.