ManWasMadeToMourn:ADirge

manwasmadetomourn:adirge

whenchillnovember'ssurlyblast

madefieldsandforestsbare,

oneev'ning,asiwander'dforth

alongthebanksofayr,

ispiedaman,whoseagedstep

seem'dweary,wornwithcare;

hisfacefurrow'do'erwithyears,

andhoarywashishair.

“youngstranger,whitherwand'restthou?”

begantherev'rendsage;

“doesthirstofwealththystepconstrain,

oryouthfulpleasure'srage?

orhaply,prestwithcaresandwoes,

toosoonthouhastbegan

towanderforth,withmetomourn

themiseriesofman.

“thesunthatoverhangsyonmoors,

out-spreadingfarandwide,

wherehundredslabourtosupport

ahaughtylordling'spride;—

i'veseenyonwearywinter-sun

twicefortytimesreturn;

andev'rytimehasaddedproofs,

thatmanwasmadetomourn.

“oman!whileinthyearlyyears,

howprodigaloftime!

mis-spendingallthyprecioushours—

thyglorious,youthfulprime!

alternatefolliestakethesway;

licentiouspassionsburn;

whichtenfoldforcegivesnature'slaw.

thatmanwasmadetomourn.

“looknotaloneonyouthfulprime,

ormanhood'sactivemight;

manthenisusefultohiskind,

supportedinhisright:

butseehimontheedgeoflife,

withcaresandsorrowsworn;

thenageandwant—oh!ill-match'dpair—

shewmanwasmadetomourn.

“afewseemfavouritesoffate,

inpleasure'slapcarest;

yet,thinknotalltherichandgreat

arelikewisetrulyblest:

butoh!whatcrowdsinev'ryland,

allwretchedandforlorn,

thro'wearylifethislessonlearn,

thatmanwasmadetomourn.

“manyandsharpthenum'rousills