I hail thee brother-spite of the fool's scorn! And fain would take thee with me, in the dell Of Peace and mild Equality to dwell,
Where toil shall call the charmer Health his bride, And Laughter tickle Plenty's ribless side! How thou wouldst toss thy heels in gamesome play, And frisk about, as lamb or kitten gay! Yea! and more musically sweet to me
Thy dissonant harsh bray of joy would be, Than warbled melodies that soothe to rest The aching of pale Fashion's vacant breast!
ON wide, or narrow scale shall man Most happily describe life's plan ? Say, shall he bloom and wither there, Where first his infant buds appear; Or upwards dart with soaring force, And tempt some more ambitious course? Obedient now to Hope's command,
I bid each humble wish expand,
And fair and bright life's prospects seem, While Hope displays her cheering beam, And Fancy's vivid colorings stream, While Emulation stands me nigh
The goddess of the eager eye.
With foot advanc'd and anxious heart Now for the fancied goal I start:— Ah! why will Reason intervene Me and my promised joys between!
She stops my course, she chains my speed, While thus her forceful words proceed. "Ah! listen, youth, ere yet too late, What evils on thy course may wait! To bow the head, to bend the knee, A minion of Servility,
At low Pride's frequent frowns to sigh, And watch the glance in Folly's eye; To toil intense, yet toil in vain, And feel with what a hollow pain Pale Disappointment hangs her head
O'er darling Expectation dead!
"The scene is changed and Fortune's gale
Shall belly out each prosperous sail.
Yet sudden wealth full well I know
Did never happiness bestow.
That wealth, to which we were not born
Dooms us to sorrow or to scorn.
Behold yon flock which long had trod O'er the short grass of Devon's sod, To Lincoln's rank rich meads transferr'd, And in their fate thy own be fear'd; Through every limb contagions fly, Deform'd and chok'd they burst and die. "When Luxury opens wide her arms, And smiling wooes thee to those charms,
Whose fascination thousands own, Shall thy brows wear the stoic frown? And when her goblet she extends Which madd'ning myriads press around, What power divine thy soul befriends That thou shouldst dash it to the ground?— No, thou shalt drink, and thou shalt know Her transient bliss, her lasting woe, Her maniac joys, that know no measure, And riot rude and painted pleasure ;— Till (sad reverse!) the enchantress vile To frowns converts her magic smile; Her train impatient to destroy, Observe her frown with gloomy joy; On thee with harpy fangs they seize The hideous offspring of Disease, Swoll'n Dropsy ignorant of rest, And Fever garb'd in scarlet vest, Consumption driving the quick hearse, And Gout that howls the frequent curse, With Apoplex of heavy head
That surely aims his dart of lead.
"But say, life's joys unmix'd were given To thee some favorite of heaven:
Within, without, tho' all were health— Yet what e'en thus are fame, power, wealth, But sounds that variously express, What's thine already---happiness! "Tis thine the converse deep to hold With all the famous sons of old; And thine the happy waking dream
While Hope pursues some favorite theme, As oft when night o'er heaven is spread, Round this maternal seat you tread, Where far from splendour, far from riot, In silence wrapt sleeps careless quiet. "Tis thine with fancy oft to talk, And thine the peaceful evening walk; And what to thee the sweetest are- The setting sun, the evening star— The tints, which live along the sky, And moon that meets thy raptur'd eye, Where oft the tear shall grateful start, Dear silent pleasures of the heart! Ah! being blest, for heaven shall lend To share thy simple joys a friend! Ah! doubly blest, if Love supply His influence to complete thy joy, If chance some lovely maid thou find To read thy visage in thy mind.
"One blessing more demands thy care :- Once more to heaven address the prayer: For humble independence pray The guardian genius of thy way; Whom (sages say) in days of yore Meek competence to wisdom bore, So shall thy little vessel glide With a fair breeze adown the tide, And Hope, if e'er thou 'ginst to sorrow Remind thee of some fair to-morrow, Till death shall close thy tranquil eye
While Faith proclaims “ thou shalt not die !”
TELL me, on what holy ground May Domestic Peace be found— Halcyon daughter of the skies! Far on fearful wings she flies, From the pomp of sceptered state, From the rebel's noisy hate. In a cottaged vale she dwells Listening to the sabbath bells! Still around her steps are seen Spotless Honour's meeker mien, Love, the sire of pleasing fears, Sorrow smiling through her tears, And conscious of the past employ Memory, bosom-spring of joy.
WHEN Youth his faery reign began Ere sorrow had proclaimed me man; While Peace the present hour beguiled, And all the lovely prospect smiled; Then Mary! 'mid my lightsome glee I heav'd the painless sigh for thee.
« ПретходнаНастави » |