FAREWELL, my best beloved! whose heavenly mind Genius with virtue, strength with softness join'd; Devotion, undebased by pride or art, With meek simplicity, and joy of heart: Though sprightly, gentle; though polite, sincere; And only of thyself a judge severe: Unblamed, unequall'd in each sphere of life, The tenderest daughter, sister, parent, wife. In thee, their patroness the afflicted lost; Thy friends their pattern, ornament, and boast; And I -- but ah, can words my loss declare, Or paint the extremes of transport and despair! O thou, beyond what verse or speech can tell -- My guide, my friend, my best beloved, farewell! |