A Picture of Human Life

Elate with Hope, and her enlivening fires,
I rush'd impetuous o'er the fields of youth,
I gave up all my soul to gay desires,
And Fancy's dazzling form mistook for Truth.

She held her magic glass, and strait I saw
A youth with rare accomplishments endued;
Perfect he seem'd; nor quickly did I know
That struck with wonder of myself I stood.

When known, a transient blush o'erspread my face:
Self-love soon took the sanguine stain away,
Increased each mental visionary grace,
And deck'd each feature with a brighter ray.

Well-pleased the treacherous Nymph, O youth, she cried,
Point thy ideas to the highest aim:
Why are superior virtues still untried?
Why does not Worth its lawful honours claim?

Inactive rise! lift thy aspiring brow;
Thine be the joys of wealth, of power, of fame;
Let thy young breast with emulation glow;
Behold the noblest, and be thou the same.

Fool that I was, with giddy transport blind,
I swallow'd the sweet sound with eager ear;
My eyes the latent poison could not find,
Nor heart think evil of a shape so fair.

Drunk as with wine, methought I could attain
To be of each admiring tongue the theme,
Whether I will'd th' heroick palm to gain,
Or haunt the olive shade of Academe.

Whether with Love to waste the smiling hours,
To melt the captived virgin's icy breast,
Or wander in the Muse's roseate bowers,
Weave the proud wreathe, and dignify my crest.

Methought my penetrating eye could dart
Thro the black plots and mysteries of state,
Pierce the thick foldings of the human heart,
And rule with Judgement's voice the deep debate.

Wildly fantastic; the fierce northern blast,
I might as soon with guiding rein have taught,
Or dry-shod o'er the billowy sea have past,
As into form have changed unbodied thought.

Ye gay delusions, whither are ye fled,
Begot by Health on Fiction's lovely form?
Will ye ne'er gently hover o'er my head?
With rapture ne'er again my bosom warm?

Say, canst thou bid old Time, with stealthy pace,
Retread the paths his feet have trod before?
The sun mete backward his celestial race?
And we'll again our pleasing dreams restore.

Again, from the full fount of lise thy blood,
Swift bursting forth, shall swell each turgid vein;
Th' enthusiastic spirits in a flood,
From each strong nerve shall fire thy kindling brain.

This Fate withstands;—and Reason, sternest guide,
Contracts in narrower bounds th' excursive view;
She plainly shews, throughout the fleeting tide
Of Life, what airy bubbles we pursue.

By her does conscious Diffidence and Fear
Ambition's rage, and Fancy's whims controul,
The flighty purposes to youth so dear,
And that wild elasticity of soul.

Hence then, ye vain, ye unsubstantial joys,
Able the selfdeluded foul to bless.—
Yet when, alas! among life's real toys,
Shall I such soothing happiness possess!