Delighted he recalls Through what fair scenes his lingering feet have trod: But ever when he tells of perils past, And troubles now no more, No, William, no, I would not live again I would not be again The slave of hope and fear; The wisdom by Experience hardly taught. To me the past presents All cause for full content. The future,. it is now the cheerful noon, And on the sunny-smiling fields I gaze When the dark night descend, I willingly shall close my weary lids, XVI. RELIGION. O BLESS'D Religion, heavenly fair, When dismal thoughts, and boding fears, An universal shade, Thy sacred dictates can assuage The fiercest storm shall lose its rage At thy divine control. Through life's bewilder'd darksome way, Thy hand unerring leads; And o'er the path thy heavenly ray A cheering lustre sheds. When feeble reason, tired and blind, Sinks helpless and afraid, Thou best Supporter of the mind, How powerful is thy aid! O let my heart confess thy power, To brighten every gloomy hour, XVII. THREE YOUNG SHEPHERDESSES SEEK INSTRUCTION FROM URANIA, AND OBTAIN THE FOLLOWING SINCE, gentle nymphs, my friendship to obtain, My lips shall flattery's smooth deceit refuse; Know, then, that life's chief happiness and woe From good or evil education flow; And hence our future dispositions rise; If ignorance, then, her iron hold maintain, And fix'd the habits that through life may last. XVIII. THE DOVE. THE Dove let loose in Eastern skies, Returning fondly home, Ne'er stoops to earth her wing, nor flies But high she shoots through air and light, Above all low delay; Where nothing earthly bounds her flight, Nor shadow dims her way, So grant me, Lord! from every stain Aloft, through virtue's purer air, No sin to cloud, no lure to stay XIX. THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE. TO A LITTLE GIRL. PHILOSOPHERS, dear girl, have toil'd Two thousand years, and still been foil'd, To find that far-famed precious stone They arrogantly call their own; |