WrittenInFriar's-CarseHermitage
writteninfriar's-carsehermitage
onnithside
thouwhomchancemayhitherlead,
bethoucladinrussetweed,
bethoudecktinsilkenstole,
gravethesecounselsonthysoul.
lifeisbutadayatmost,
sprungfromnight,—indarknesslost;
hopenotsunshineev'ryhour,
fearnotcloudswillalwayslour.
asyouthandlovewithsprightlydance,
beneaththymorningstaradvance,
pleasurewithhersirenair
maydeludethethoughtlesspair;
letprudenceblessenjoyment'scup,
thenraptur'dsip,andsipitup.
asthydaygrowswarmandhigh,
life'smeridianflamingnigh,
dostthouspurnthehumblevale?
life'sproudsummitswouldstthouscale?
checkthyclimbingstep,elate,
evilslurkinfelonwait:
dangers,eagle-pinioned,bold,
soararoundeachcliffyhold!
whilecheerfulpeace,withlinnetsong,
chantsthelowlydellsamong.
astheshadesofev'ningclose,
beck'ningtheetolongrepose;
aslifeitselfbecomesdisease,
seekthechimney-nookofease;
thereruminatewithsoberthought,
onallthou'stseen,andheard,andwrought,
andteachthesportiveyounkersround,
sawsofexperience,sageandsound:
say,man'strue,genuineestimate,
thegrandcriterionofhisfate,
isnot,—arththouhighorlow?
didthyfortuneebborflow?
didmanytalentsgildthyspan?
orfrugalnaturegrudgetheeone?
tellthem,andpressitontheirmind,
asthouthyselfmustshortlyfind,
thesmileorfrownofawfulheav'n,
tovirtueortoviceisgiv'n,
say,tobejust,andkind,andwise—
theresolidself-enjoymentlies;
thatfoolish,selfish,faithlessways
leadtobewretched,vile,andbase.
thusresign'dandquiet,creep
tothebedoflastingsleep,—