Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/328

 3l8 CONSOLATIONS OF SOLITUDE

Ne'er yet conceived, — who seeks the health's protection

Rather in drugs, prescribed with grave direction,

Than in a heart which feels for all God's works affection.

��Even they that call thee cold Less love mankind than gold ; In the drear haunts of social life, Bound but by fellowship of strife, They spend their days reviling and reviled. The worldling loves but self in his own child. And thought's sweet solitudes he deems a pathless wild.

Yet none hate truth or right ; Even they that shun the light Look wistful back toward virtue's star — The good themselves, forsooth, how far From perfect goodness ! Yet from age to age Truth still advances, and earth's wisest sage Needs with each generation a new pupilage.

Poor soul ! Thy narrovyf mind. By narrow views confined. Ne'er soared beyond thy little field. And history's book to thee is sealed. Thou lovest that which lies about thy door, And best whate'er thou hast loved best of yore — So art a faithful friend ; pray, how canst thou be more ?

The patriot, sacred name ! No merit more can claim ; He to a greater interest clings. Whilst thou art true to trifling things ; But at his country's bound he makes his stand, For her alone he lifts his voice or hand ; He cares not what befalls men of another land.

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