Solitude

Softly-pleasing Solitude,
Were thy blessings understood;
Soon would thoughtless mortals grow
Tir'd of noise, and pomp, and show;
And with thee retreating, gain
Pleasure crowds pursue in vain.
True, the friendly social mind
Joy in converse oft can find;
Not where empty mirth presides,
But with those whom wisdom guides.
Yet the long-continued feast
Sometimes palls upon the taste:
Kind alternate, then to be
Lost in thought awhile with thee.
Intellectual pleasures here
In their truest light appear;
Grave reflection, friendly power,
Waits the lonely silent hour:
Spread before the mental eye,
Actions past in order lie;
By reflection's needful aid
Latent errors are display'd:
Thus humility is taught,
Thus confirm'd the better thought.
Friends and soothing praise apart,
Solitude unveils the heart;
When the veil is thrown aside,
Can we see a cause for pride?
Empty is the heart and poor,
Stripp'd of all its fancy'd store;
Conscious want awakes desire,
Bids the restless wish aspire,
Wish for riches never found
Through the globe's capacious round.
Contemplation, sacred guest,
Now inspires the ardent breast,
Spreads her wing, and bids the mind
Rise and leave the world behind.
Now the mind enraptur'd soars;
All the wealth of India's shores
Is but dust beneath her eye;
Nobler treasures kept on high.
Treasures of eternal joy,
Now her great pursuit employ.
Mansions of immense delight!
Language cannot say how bright!
See! the op'ning gates display
Beaming far, immortal day!
See! inviting angels smile,
And applaud the glorious toil!
Hark! they tune the charming lyre;
Who can hear and not desire?
O the sweet, though distant strain!
All the joys of earth how vain!
Nearer fain the mind would rise,
Fain would gaze with eager eyes
On the glories of the skies;
But mortality denies.
Dusky vapours cloud her sight,
Down she sinks to earth and night;
Then to friendship calls again,
Gentle solace of her pain:
Friendship, with thy pleasing power.
Come and cheer the mournful hour;
Only solitude and thee
Can afford a joy for me.