While whim, and glee, and jest, and song

While whim, and glee, and jest, and song,
Display their charming treasure,
Mingling in gay laughter's throng,
Come to the camp of pleasure.
All human beings have their cares,
Life's made of joy and sorrow;
To balance life then our affairs
Should of our pleasures borrow:
Youth's joy's season, so is age,
Each temper, sex, complexion,
In mirth may harmlessly engage,
As well as in reflexion.
While whim, &c.

You who proudly roll in wealth;
You whose means are slender,
You whose lungs proclaim your health,
You whose frames are tender;
You who wear grave wisdom's wigs,
You who deal in folly,
You who merry are as grigs,
You who are melancholy:—
While whim, &c.

Where's mongst them all the cynic elf,
Of joy the open scorner,
But doff'd the sage, and to himself
Took pleasure in a corner?
In short who sets up to despise
Those joys that mirth awaken,
I will not rudely say he lies,
But surely he's mistaken.
While whim, &c.