Classic Poem

Hail, sweet Contentment, calm Repose!
The balm of comfort shed,
Oh! let me not complain of woes,
By thy kind guidance led!

To thee Compassion is allied,
Revengeful hope unknown;
As thou a stranger art to Pride,
From thee is Discord flown.

Tho' plain and humble be my lot,
Yet grant me strength of mind;
So shall I find, tho' in a Cot,
Pleasures the most refin'd.

With pity shall behold the great,
While no rude cares molest;
Nor fond desire for useless state,
Disturb my tranquil breast.

In silent glen, in hollow cave,
And Hermit's lonely cell,
Where winding streams delight to lave,
Reflection deigns to dwell.

Far from the bustling scenes of Life,
I wish in peace to rest;
Remov'd from vanity and strife,
In calm retirement blest.

To me in gorgon terrors clad,
Appear the rash and bold;
The vain, the wealthy, and the bad,
Who thirst for nought but gold.

With horror such delights behold,
As deck the festive scene;
Tho' young, am prematurely old,
Collected, grave, serene.

To thee, Contentment, thus I bend,
With meek and humble heart;
In pity to my pray'r attend,
And lend thy soothing art!