Poems, on sacred and other subjects and songs, humorous and sentimental: By the late William Watt. Third edition of the songs only--with additional songs |
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 | Poems, on sacred and other subjects |  |
168
Content.
The sages, who do bright display
The regions of philosophy,
Do all agree, with one consent,
The greatest blessing is Content:
But where to find this heavenly fair
They differ strangely wide;
Some search the earth, and some the air,
As fancy doth decide.
The regions of philosophy,
Do all agree, with one consent,
The greatest blessing is Content:
But where to find this heavenly fair
They differ strangely wide;
Some search the earth, and some the air,
As fancy doth decide.
Newton, within great nature's laws,
Explores each consequence and cause;
Experiments unnumber'd tries,
Nor quits his search until he dies;
Finds pleasure new in each advance
He makes to wisdom's throne,
Till wheeling systems, at one glance,
He can descry anon.
Explores each consequence and cause;
Experiments unnumber'd tries,
Nor quits his search until he dies;
Finds pleasure new in each advance
He makes to wisdom's throne,
Till wheeling systems, at one glance,
He can descry anon.
What crowds incessant strive to climb
Parnassus' tow'ring height sublime?
And Homer, Virgil, Milton, Pope,
With Shakespeare, have attain'd the top:
Though sweeter far the Hebrew strains
Which through our bosoms thrill,
Struck by the heaven-inspired swains
Who stray'd round Zion's hill.
Parnassus' tow'ring height sublime?
And Homer, Virgil, Milton, Pope,
With Shakespeare, have attain'd the top:
Though sweeter far the Hebrew strains
Which through our bosoms thrill,
Struck by the heaven-inspired swains
Who stray'd round Zion's hill.
Where Mars displays the furbish'd spear
Behold the sons of blood appear;
The leader of the Grecian host,
And Cæsar, Rome's eternal boast;
With those who o'er Hindostan ran
With predatory sweep—
Famed Tamerlane and Zinghis Khan,
By whom did thousands weep.
Behold the sons of blood appear;
The leader of the Grecian host,
And Cæsar, Rome's eternal boast;
With those who o'er Hindostan ran
With predatory sweep—
Famed Tamerlane and Zinghis Khan,
By whom did thousands weep.
And, last, yon troop who strive to gain
The golden gate of Mammon's fane;
O'er land and sea they eager press
To reach their throne of happiness:
On wealth their thoughts are wholly bent,
Their hearts for lucre burn;
That gain'd, they still are discontent,
And, disappointed, mourn.
The golden gate of Mammon's fane;
O'er land and sea they eager press
To reach their throne of happiness:
169
Their hearts for lucre burn;
That gain'd, they still are discontent,
And, disappointed, mourn.
But palms and laurels, though attain'd,
And wisdom found, and riches gain'd,
May still have miss'd the hallow'd road
Which leads to true Content's abode.
She seldom in the palace dwells,
Where grandeur gleams in gold,
But oft the peasant's bosom swells,
Who tends the lone sheepfold.
And wisdom found, and riches gain'd,
May still have miss'd the hallow'd road
Which leads to true Content's abode.
She seldom in the palace dwells,
Where grandeur gleams in gold,
But oft the peasant's bosom swells,
Who tends the lone sheepfold.
Hers is the power to raise the smile
Upon the sun-burn'd face of toil;
To cheer the soul and clear the eye
Of downcast ragged poverty;
And dissipate the sullen gloom
That o'er misfortune frowns;
And soothe the martyr 'neath his doom,
While horror dwells with crowns.
Upon the sun-burn'd face of toil;
To cheer the soul and clear the eye
Of downcast ragged poverty;
And dissipate the sullen gloom
That o'er misfortune frowns;
And soothe the martyr 'neath his doom,
While horror dwells with crowns.
'Tis not the splendour of the court
Can tempt her thither to resort;
'Tis not that mirth where riot reigns
Can waft her from her calm domains;
But patient mild humility
Alone she does attend,
Whose handmaid, pure fidelity,
Befriends her to the end.
Can tempt her thither to resort;
'Tis not that mirth where riot reigns
Can waft her from her calm domains;
But patient mild humility
Alone she does attend,
Whose handmaid, pure fidelity,
Befriends her to the end.
| Poems, on sacred and other subjects | |