OH ! that amid this wandering maze of care,
Where short-liv’d pleasure meets o’erwhelming woe
At every turn; e’en where bright virtue soars,
With toilsome flight, to fame’s aspiring hill;
So foul a fiend as Envy still should haunt
Each bow’r and brake! still horribly enjoy
The gloomy thought to be reveng’d on him,
Whom glory decks for high illustrious deeds,
Or innocence of life. With silent step
(The soul of murder brooding in his eye)
He moves along, in meditation wrapt,
How safest he may blast the fairest name,
And drink sweet joy from tear-distilling grief.
Oft have I seen, in gay convivial hour,
While mirth and wit harmonious flow’d around,
The dark-ey’d monster fix’d in pensive mood,
Involuntary grind his gnashing teeth,
Or ghastly yawn–faint mimicking a smile.
Not him, the reasoning philosophic tongue
Delights, or Poet with his voice divine,
Lifting the soul in ecstasies to heaven!
No thirst of knowledge leads his soul to taste
The founts of genius, tho’ with unclos’d eye
Insatiable he turns the classic page;
‘Tis inward wrath that guides his wearied search,
‘Tis madd’ning grief to listen to applause,
By candour lavish’d o’er the sons of worth,
That whets his raging appetite for lore!
O farewel, all th’ inspirings of the Muse,
And generous emulation to excel
In virtue, wisdom, eloquence, or song,
Where Envy roaming breathes his clouds of death
O’er all the well-earn’d laurels of renown!
(Emma Lyon)
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