For works with similar titles, see Hope.
HOPE.
What is Hope? The sages tell us
'T is a vision soon destroyed,
Painting life in glowing colors
Never meant to be enjoyed,
'T is a vision soon destroyed,
Painting life in glowing colors
Never meant to be enjoyed,
Oft deceiving careless youth
With many an idle, vain presage,
Maturer years still flattering on,
Till disappointed by old age.
With many an idle, vain presage,
Maturer years still flattering on,
Till disappointed by old age.
Yet, if hope smooths
The rugged path of life,
And kindly soothes
Woes else 't were hard to bear,
Successfully opposes fell despair,
And conquers in the strife,
O, may hope attend us still,
Support us under every ill!
The rugged path of life,
And kindly soothes
Woes else 't were hard to bear,
Successfully opposes fell despair,
And conquers in the strife,
O, may hope attend us still,
Support us under every ill!
But know, hope founded on the Rock
Of ages calmly meets the shock
Of nature, brightly gilds the tomb,
Nor then deceives in painting joys to come,
Exulting, points to brighter worlds on high,
And with celestial voice instructs us how to die.
Of ages calmly meets the shock
Of nature, brightly gilds the tomb,
Nor then deceives in painting joys to come,
Exulting, points to brighter worlds on high,
And with celestial voice instructs us how to die.