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,—