LET him that will be free and keep his heart from care, Retired alone, remain where no discomforts are. For when the eye doth view his grief, or hapless ear his sorrow hears, Th' impression still in him abides, and ever in one shape appears. Forget thy griefs betimes; long sorrow breeds long pain, For joy far fled from men, will not return again; O happy is the soul which heaven ordained to life in endless peace! His life is a pleasing dream, and every hour his joys increase. You heavy sprites, that love in severed shades to dwell, That nurse despair and dream of unrelenting hell, Come sing this happy song, and learn of me the Art of the True Content! Load not your guilty souls with wrong, and heaven then will soon relent. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOMESDAY BOOK: ELENOR MURRAY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE PLAYERS ASK FOR A BLESSING ON THE PSALTERIES AND ON THEMSELVES by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE HEART OF THE TREE by HENRY CUYLER BUNNER THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS [JANUARY 8, 1815] by THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH LITTLE BILLEE by WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY REMINISCENCE by LYLE BARTSCHER COME SI QUANDO by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES ELEGY ON A LADY, WHOM GRIEF FOR THE DEATH OF HER BETHROTHED KILLED by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES |