The peripatetic or, Sketches of the heart, of nature and society; In a series of politico-sentimental journals, in verse and prose, of the eccentric excursions of Sylvanus Theophrastus; Supposed to be written by himself [by John Thelwall] |
 | [I]. |
[If the glad heart of Friendship, or the soul] |
 | II. |
| III. |
 | The peripatetic |  |
194
[If the glad heart of Friendship, or the soul]
If the glad heart of Friendship, or the soulOf Merit pining in Misfortune's power
Feel, when from Bounty's hand her blessings show'r,
The kindling transport thro' the bosom roll—
If these, not conscious of the art to hide
The inward feeling, from the speaking eye
Beam the glad smile, or more delighted tear,
Heaven! to what height must swell the generous tide
Of glowing extasy!—how the fine joy
Like thy own glorious radiance must appear
To decorate his brow, who with the will
Combines the power the wanted bliss to deal!
Oh! with what joy his conscious heart must thrill!—
Sole joy which human Virtue ne'er can feel
Without the aid of Fortune!—Yet how few
Of those who bask in her meridian smile
Have sense to seize this sole prerogative
Which Wealth and Power can challenge!—Ah! how few
Prefer to mingling in each sordid joy,
Which every hind indulges in his way,
The generous luxury that lifts the head
Of pining genius from the abject dust,
And shews the real splendour of their state!
| The peripatetic | |