1.
OH ! What is he, whose haggard eye
Scarce dares to meet the morning’s ray;
Who trembling would, but cannot, fly
From MAN , and from the busy day ?
Mark how his lip is fever’d o’er !
Behold his cheek, how deathly it appears !
See how his bloodshot eye-balls pour
A burning torrent of unpitied tears !
2.
Now watch the varying gesture wild !
See how his tortur’d bosom heaves !
Behold Misfortune’s wayward child,
For whom no kindred nature grieves !
Despis’d, suspected, ruin’d, lost;
His fortune, health, and reputation, flown;
On Mis’ry’s stormy ocean tost,
Condemn’d to curse his fate–and curse alone !
3.
Once were his prospects bright and gay,
And Independence bless’d his hours;
His was the smooth and sunny way
Where tip-toe Pleasure scatter’d flow’rs;
Love bound his brow with thornless sweets,
And smiling Friendship fill’d his cup of joy:–
Now, not a friend the victim meets,
For, like a Wolf , he wanders to destroy
4.
All day, upon a couch of thorn,
His weary fev’rish limbs recline;
All night, distracted and forlorn,
He hovers round the fateful shrine,–
Eager to seize with grasping hands
The slender pittance of the fool,
He links himself with caitiff bands,
And learns the lesson of the GAMESTER’S SCHOOL .
5.
One hour, elate with ill-got gold,
And dazzled by the shining ore,
In plenitude of joys behold
The prodigal display his store !
The next, in poverty and fear,
He hides him, trembling at approaching fate,
While greedy creditors appear,
And with remorseless rage lurk round his gate.
Then comes the horror-breeding hour:
While recreant SUICIDE attends;
And Madness, with impetuous pow’r,
The scene of desolation ends !
Upon his grave no parent mourns,
No widow’d love laments with graceful woe;
No joyful gleam for him returns;
For Heav’n denies that peace his frenzy lost below !
(Mary Elizabeth Robinson)
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