Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/341

 THE EXPERIENCED nilLOSOPIIEK 531

Since, for the rapture of a fond caress, It pays the penalty of helplessness.

Dost thou lament thine errors, fain once more

At life's first source thy virtue to renew? Will childhood thy lost innocence restore ?

Thou changest evening damps for morning dew. Yon fretful babe might tell thee, could it speak. In this consists its innocence — 'tis weak.

Rather rejoice that time hath set thee free From blind obedience to each tyrant fool,

Whether to nurse or parent it may be, Or to the petty despot of a school.

Who oft with misspent toil life's field prepares,

And scatters wide the seeds of future tares.

Art thou so fond of servitude, mankind

Will scarcely fail to enslave thee, chaining down

Thy faith to false opinion, till the mind

Less loves the truth than fears the false world's frown.

Masters enough will bind thee, soul and sense.

Till reason claim thy sole obedience.

Yet, wouldst thou truly be renewed, even now. As chemic art can change the natural night

To greater than noon's brightness, so mayst thou Life's waning hours illume with moral light.

Whose influence mild shall cheer thy latest day,

And keep thee all unwasted by decay.

Come, then ! And first, if thou life's art wouldst learn.

Keep thy neglected body in good health, Or truth thy jaundiced eyes shall scarce discern.

Next, knowledge seek, which can bestow such wealth

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