To the Honourable Mr. Erskine

1. 1When British Freedom for an happier land
2. 2Spread her broad wings, that flutter'd with affright,
3. 3ERSKINE! thy voice she heard, and paus'd her flight
4. 4Sublime of hope, for dreadless thou didst stand
5. 5(Thy censer glowing with the hallow'd flame)
6. 6A hireless Priest before the insulted shrine,
7. 7And at her altar pour the stream divine
8. 8Of unmatch'd eloquence. Therefore thy name
9. 9Her sons shall venerate, and cheer thy breast
10. 10With blessings heaven-ward breath'd. And when the doom
11. 11Of Nature bids thee die, beyond the tomb
12. 12Thy light shall shine: as sunk beneath the West
13. 13Though the great Summer Sun eludes our gaze,
14. 14Still burns wide Heaven with his distended blaze.