An
ODE
to
CONTENTMENT
.
I
Celestial
maid
,
if
on
my
way
,
Propitious
thou
wilt'
deign
to
smile
,
Let
virtue
guide
each
youthful
day
,
From
malice
,
envy
,
care
,
and
guile
.
II
Protect
my
unexperienc'd
youth
,
From
ev'ry
ill
,
from
grief
and
pain
,
Inspire
my
heart
with
love
and
truth
,
Without
ambition's
idle
claim
.
III
Banish'd
from
thee
,
what's
ev'ry
joy
,
What's
beauty
,
wealth
,
delight
,
or
ease
,
Without
thee
all
our
pleasures
cloy
,
Which
nature
first
ordain'd
to
please
.
IV
In
search
of
thee
,
long
time
I
stray'd
,
Amid
the
throng
of
busy
life
,
But
found
,
alas
!
I
was
betray'd
,
For
vanity's
the
source
of
strife
.
V
I've
fought
thee
in
the
myrtle
shade
,
The
silent
wood
,
and
poplar
grove
,
I've
sought
thee
in
the
lonely
glade
,
The
paths
of
friendship
,
and
of
love
.
VI
Some
hope
to
find
thee
in
a
court
,
In
stately
pomp
,
and
vain
parade
,
But
that
is
not
thy
calm
resort
,
Such
scenes
of
art
you
ne'er
invade
.
VII
Tis
not
in
palaces
you
dwell
,
Among
the
gay
,
and
giddy
croud
,
Nor
in
the
hermit's
lonely
cell
,
Far
distant
from
the
great
,
and
proud
.
VIII
The
sordid
miser
hopes
t'explore
,
Thy
wondrous
charms
in
idle
toys
,
In
hoarding
heaps
of
yellow
ore
,
In
transitory
,
short-liv'd
joys
.
IX
Mistaken
youth
,
too
often
trys
,
With
luxury
,
deceit
and
art
,
To
find
thee
in
the
wanton's
eyes
,
Which
only
shine
t'ensnare
th'heart
,
X
Others
by
fickle
fortune
blind
,
To
flatt'ry's
mean
device
a
prey
,
Vainly
expect
,
content
to
find
,
Among
the
great
,
the
rich
,
and
gay
.
XI
Alas
!
ye
blinded
,
thoughtless
race
,
Contentment
ye
will
never
find
,
Till
ye
abhor
deceit
,
and
vice
,
And
pay
attention
to
the
mind
.
XII
In
your
own
pow'r
,
alone
it
lies
,
To
blend
this
life
with
joy
,
or
care
,
Ambition's
idle
claim
despise
,
Think
yourself
happy
;
—
and
you
are
.