University of Virginia Library


114

SONNET. TO INGRATITUDE.

He that's ungrateful, has no guilt but one;
All other crimes may pass for virtues in him.
YOUNG.

I could have borne affliction's sharpest thorn;
The sting of malice—poverty's deep wound;
The sneers of vulgar pride, the idiot's scorn;
Neglected love, false friendship's treach'rous sound;
I could, with patient smile, extract the dart
Base calumny had planted in my heart;
The fangs of envy, agonizing pain;
All, all, nor should my steady soul complain:
E'en had relentless fate, with cruel pow'r,
Darken'd the sunshine of each youthful day;
While from my path she snatch'd each transient flow'r,
Not one soft sigh my sorrow should betray;
But where ingratitude's fell poisons pour,
Hope shrinks subdu'd—and life's best joys decay.