Buried in dust and lost in silence, dwell,

Most potent, grave, and reverend friends - farewell!

Near these, and where the setting sun displays,

Through the dim window, his departing rays,

And gilds yon columns, there, on either side,

The huge Abridgments of the LAW abide;

Fruitful as vice the dread correctors stand,

And spread their guardian terrors round the land;

Yet, as the best that human care can do

Is mix’d with error, oft with evil too,