FOR ever seeking, never found,
In this wide varied scene;
Sole object of unceasing search,
While in this low terrene.
Some fly to fashion’s giddy crowd,
To find thy fleeting storm;
While others seek in solitude
A shelter from the storm.
Yet vain the search, if in the heart
Some lurking passion dwell;
For this will hang with cypress wreath
Retirement’s secret cell.
In vain the outward scene is calm,
In vain the world we fly;
If thou, in pure religion’s garb,
Thy friendly aid deny.
Warm friendship, generous and sincere,
Thy fountain may supply;
Till forc’d to feel the cruel wounds
Of insincerity.
When in the contest she is slain,
And thou art banish’d hence;
Flying the everconquering darts
Of keen indifference;
We seek in vain the tender smile
That friendship might approve;
And dwell on ev’ry mental grace,
And ev’ry charm, but love.
‘Tis thus we all the cares increase
That load humanity;
Forgetting ev’ry proffer’d good,
To sigh for what might be .
Yet still the rugged road is short,
That man is doom’d to tread;
And love and friendship cease alike
To charm the sleeping dead.
Alas! how vain the cherish’d hopes
Of lasting pleasure here;
Events are never so combin’d
To make our bliss sincere.
Peace unalloy’d before us flies,
The bait still kept in view;
And tho’ deceived in one attempt,
Fresh efforts we renew.
The still seductive search is ours
Which leads us on our way;
But ’tis a light which only shines
In Heaven’s eternal day.
(Elizabeth Bath)
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