To
WISDOM
.
Dona
praesentis
rape
laetus
horae
,
ac
Linque
severa
.
HORAT.
O
WISDOM
!
if
thy
soft
controul
Can
sooth
the
sickness
of
the
soul
,
Can
bid
the
warring
passions
cease
,
And
breathe
the
balm
of
tender
peace
,
WISDOM
!
I
bless
thy
gentle
sway
,
And
ever
,
ever
will
obey
.
But
if
thou
com'st
with
frown
austere
To
nurse
the
brood
of
care
and
fear
;
To
bid
our
sweetest
passions
die
,
And
leave
us
in
their
room
a
sigh
;
Or
if
thine
aspect
stern
have
power
To
wither
each
poor
transient
flower
,
That
cheers
the
pilgrimage
of
woe
,
And
dry
the
springs
whence
hope
should
flow
;
WISDOM
,
thine
empire
I
disclaim
,
Thou
empty
boast
of
pompous
name
!
In
gloomy
shade
of
cloisters
dwell
,
But
never
haunt
my
chearful
cell
.
Hail
to
pleasure's
frolic
train
;
Hail
to
fancy's
golden
reign
;
Festive
mirth
,
and
laughter
wild
,
Free
and
sportful
as
the
child
;
Hope
with
eager
sparkling
eyes
,
And
easy
faith
,
and
fond
surprise
:
Let
these
,
in
fairy
colours
drest
,
Forever
share
my
careless
breast
;
Then
,
tho'
wise
I
may
not
be
,
The
wise
themselves
shall
envy
me
.