LinesWrittenInFriars'-CarseHermitage

lineswritteninfriars'-carsehermitage

glenriddelhermitage,june28th,1788.

thouwhomchancemayhitherlead,

bethoucladinrussetweed,

bethoudecktinsilkenstole,

gravethesemaximsonthysoul.

lifeisbutadayatmost,

sprungfromnight,indarknesslost:

hopenotsunshineeveryhour,

fearnotcloudswillalwayslour.

happinessisbutaname,

makecontentandeasethyaim,

ambitionisameteor-gleam;

fame,anidlerestlessdream;

peace,thetend'restflow'rofspring;

pleasures,insectsonthewing;

thosethatsipthedewalone—

makethebutterfliesthyown;

thosethatwouldthebloomdevour—

crushthelocusts,savetheflower.

forthefuturebeprepar'd,

guardwhereverthoucan'stguard;

butthyutmostdulydone,

welcomewhatthoucan'stnotshun.

folliespast,givethoutoair,

maketheirconsequencethycare:

keepthenameofmaninmind,

anddishonournotthykind.

reverencewithlowlyheart

him,whosewondrousworkthouart;

keephisgoodnessstillinview,

thytrust,andthyexample,too.

stranger,go!heavenbethyguide!

quodthebeadsmanofnidside.