(88)
This desert drear,
That with remorse a conscience bleeding
Hath led me here.
That with remorse a conscience bleeding
Hath led me here.
No thought of guilt my bosom sours:
Free-willed I fled from courtly bowers;
For well I saw in halls and towers,
That Lust and Pride,
The Arch-fiend's dearest darkest powers,
In state preside.
Free-willed I fled from courtly bowers;
For well I saw in halls and towers,
That Lust and Pride,
The Arch-fiend's dearest darkest powers,
In state preside.
I saw mankind with vice incrusted;
I saw that Honour's sword was rusted;
That few for aught but folly lusted;
That he was still deceiv'd, who trusted
In love or friend;
And hither came, with men disgusted,
My life to end.
I saw that Honour's sword was rusted;
That few for aught but folly lusted;
That he was still deceiv'd, who trusted
In love or friend;
And hither came, with men disgusted,
My life to end.
In this lone cave, in garments lowly,
Alike a foe to noisy folly
And brow-bent gloomy melancholy,
I wear away
My life, and in my office holy
Consume the day.
Alike a foe to noisy folly
And brow-bent gloomy melancholy,
I wear away
My life, and in my office holy
Consume the day.
Content and comfort bless me more in
This grot, than e'er I felt before in
A palace; and with thoughts still soaring
To God on high,
Each night and morn with voice imploring
This wish I sigh:
This grot, than e'er I felt before in
A palace; and with thoughts still soaring
To God on high,
Each night and morn with voice imploring
This wish I sigh:
"let
