 | The Modern Dunciad |  |
311
RESIGNATION.
Say, is the struggle more severe
That ends our mortal strife,
Than watching, waiting, ling'ring here,
With a distaste for life?
That ends our mortal strife,
Than watching, waiting, ling'ring here,
With a distaste for life?
It cannot be—a moment's pain,
And lo, the dart is sped!
No more we drag affliction's chain,
The living are the dead.
And lo, the dart is sped!
No more we drag affliction's chain,
The living are the dead.
But when disease assails the mind,
When ev'ry hope 's destroy'd,
And life appears a boon unkind,
A sad, a dreary void;
When ev'ry hope 's destroy'd,
And life appears a boon unkind,
A sad, a dreary void;
When gath'ring clouds and tempests low'r,
Without a ray to cheer,
Death has not in his darkest hour
Affliction so severe.
Without a ray to cheer,
Death has not in his darkest hour
Affliction so severe.
Taste, genius, high attainments all,
For what are ye design'd?
As plagues to fill the heart with gall?
As torments for the mind?
For what are ye design'd?
As plagues to fill the heart with gall?
As torments for the mind?
312
The careless world looks down with scorn
On intellectual fires;
And he indeed is most forlorn
Whom genius most inspires.
On intellectual fires;
And he indeed is most forlorn
Whom genius most inspires.
Yet mourn not vainly, suff'ring man,
At this, thy fate o'ercast;
Life, good or ill, is but a span,
Which cannot always last.
At this, thy fate o'ercast;
Life, good or ill, is but a span,
Which cannot always last.
And fondly hope, amidst thy woe,
To make the balance even;
That those whom sorrow marks below,
Are doubly blest in heaven.
To make the balance even;
That those whom sorrow marks below,
Are doubly blest in heaven.
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