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250
SERENITY.
[A paraphrase from Horace. Carmen III., Lib. II.]
My friend, where'er you tread this scene
Of varied joys and cares,
Preserve thy mind alike serene
In sad or gay affairs.
Of varied joys and cares,
Preserve thy mind alike serene
In sad or gay affairs.
Whether you live in sorrow's shade,
Or on the grass recline
In bowers by pines and poplars made
To quaff the generous wine,—
Or on the grass recline
In bowers by pines and poplars made
To quaff the generous wine,—
There, while the boughs above thy head
A living roof weave high,
And purling brooks with quivering tread
Run bounding gladly by,—
A living roof weave high,
And purling brooks with quivering tread
Run bounding gladly by,—
Let them bring wine, and sweet perfume,
And roses fresh and gay;
For soon, like these, we cease to bloom,
And fade from earth away.
And roses fresh and gay;
For soon, like these, we cease to bloom,
And fade from earth away.
The house, the grove, the costly field
Which yellow Tiber laves,
This heaped-up wealth to heirs we yield,
And seek forgotten graves.
Which yellow Tiber laves,
This heaped-up wealth to heirs we yield,
And seek forgotten graves.
251
The highest and the humblest thing,
The wealthiest, poorest,—all
Are victims to the tyrant king,
And all alike must fall.
The wealthiest, poorest,—all
Are victims to the tyrant king,
And all alike must fall.
Even now the fatal lot we know
Is shaken in the urn:
Soon it comes forth, and then we go
Whence we shall not return.
Is shaken in the urn:
Soon it comes forth, and then we go
Whence we shall not return.
May, 1851.
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