8. Ah, joyous season! when the mind 9. Not so in Man's maturer years, When Man himself is but a tool, When interest sways our hopes and fears, 19 10. With fools in kindred vice the same, p ·11. Such is the common lot of man: Can we then 'scape from folly free? Can we reverse the general plan, Nor be what all in turn must be? 12. No, for myself so dark my fate Through every turn of life hath been; Man and the world I so much hate, I care not when I quit the scene. 13. But thou, with spirit frail and light, 14. Alas! whenever folly calls Where parasites and princes meet, (For cherish'd first in royal halls, The welcome vices kindly greet) 15. Ev'n now thou'rt nightly seen to add And still thy trifling heart is glad, Ꭱ 16. There dost thou glide from fair to fair, That taint the flowers they scarcely taste. 17. But say, what nymph will prize the flame To flit along from dame to dame, An ignis-fatuus gleam of love? 18. What friend for thee, howe'er inclin'd, Who will debase his manly mind, For friendship every fool may share.99 14 19. In time forbear; amidst the throngs ol #! No more so base a thing be seenom I No more so idly pass along:Ð ÁÐUR TAL Be something, any thing, but mean Thy husband's blest and 'twill impart 3. When late I saw thy favourite child, I thought my jealous heart would break; But when th' unconscious infant smil'd, I kiss'd it, for its mother's sake. # I kiss'd it, and repress'd my sighs And they were all to love and me. 5. Mary, adieu! I must away: While thou art blest I'll not repine; But near thee I can never stay; My heart would soon again be thine. 6. I deem'd that time, I deem'd that pride Had quench'd at length my boyish flame; Nor knew, till seated by thy side, My heart in all, save hope, the same. 7. Yet was I calm: I knew the time My breast would thrill before thy look; But now to tremble were a crime— We met, and not a nerve was shook. |