Within the Dungeon’s noxious gloom
The Patriot still, with dauntless breast,
The cheerful aspect can assume-
And smile-in conscious Virtue blest!
The damp foul floor, the ragged wall,
And shattered window, grated high;
The trembling Ruffian may appal,
Whose thoughts no sweet resource supply.
But he, unaw’d by guilty fears,
(To Freedom and his Country true)
Who o’er a race of well-spent years
Can cast the retrospective view,
Looks inward to his heart, and sees
The objects that must ever please.
(John Thelwall)
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Based on Topics: Joy & Excitement Poems, Fear PoemsBased on Keywords: retrospective, unaw, well-spent