10
POEMS.
He ne'er perceives from every eye
Contemptuous glances sent;
He ne'er suspects that keen reply
To mock his folly meant:
Half-stifled laugh, retort severe,
Bombastic praise, and open sneer,
In him no anguish cause;
To modest fear his soul is dead,
And if in scorn you wave your head,
He thinks you nod applause.
Contemptuous glances sent;
He ne'er suspects that keen reply
To mock his folly meant:
Half-stifled laugh, retort severe,
Bombastic praise, and open sneer,
In him no anguish cause;
To modest fear his soul is dead,
And if in scorn you wave your head,
He thinks you nod applause.
Vain happy Thing! for one like thing
My soul to change I sue,
At errors past who still repine,
Though still committing new!
Where folly leads, I darkling stray,
With thorns while Reason strews my way,
And paints in colours strong
Each fault to shock my conscious sight;
But never warns me what is right,
'Till certain that I'm wrong.
My soul to change I sue,
At errors past who still repine,
Though still committing new!
Where folly leads, I darkling stray,
With thorns while Reason strews my way,
And paints in colours strong
Each fault to shock my conscious sight;
But never warns me what is right,
'Till certain that I'm wrong.
