THE ARGUMENT. Introduction... Ringing of Bells in a neighbouring Villag on the Birth of an Heir... General Reflections on Hu man Life... The Subject proposed ... Childhood .. Youth... Manhood... Love... Marriage...Domesti Happiness and Affliction ... War ... Peace... Civil Dissension ... Retirement from active Life ... Old Age and its Enjoyments... Conclusion. THE lark has sung his carol in the sky; The bees have hummed their noon-tide harmony. For now the caudle-cup is circling there, A few short years—and then these sounds shall ha The day again, and gladness fill the vale; So soon the child a youth, the youth a man, Then the huge ox shall yield the broad sir-loin ; ""Twas on these knees he sate so oft and smiled." And once, alas, nor in a distant hour, Another voice shall come from yonder tower; And weepings heard where only joy has been; He rests in holy earth with them that went before. And such is Human Life; so gliding on, To minstrel-harps at midnight's witching hour! Of Elfin-size-for ever as we run, And now a charm, and now a grace is won! And from the slack hand drops the gathered rose! While many an emmet comes with curious eye; And on her nest the watchful wren sits by! Nor do we speak or move, or hear or see; So like what once we were, and once again shall be ! And say, how soon, where, blithe as innocent, The boy at sun-rise carolled as he went, F } An aged pilgrim on his staff shall lean, The man himself how altered, not the scene! And we shall look to-morrow as to-day. Yet while the loveliest smiles, her locks grow grey ! And in her glass could she but see the face She'll see so soon amid another race, How would she shrink!—Returning from afar, After some years of travel, some of war, Before a wife, a father, and a son! And such is Human Life, the general theme. Ah, what at best, what but a longer dream? Though with such wild romantic wanderings fraught, Such forms in Fancy's richest colouring wrought, That, like the visions of a love-sick brain, Who would not sleep and dream them o'er again? Our pathway leads but to a precipice; And all must follow, fearful as it is! From the first step 'tis known; but-No delay! On, 'tis decreed. We tremble and obey. |