Contentment

Farewell aspiring thoughts, no more My soul shall leave the peaceful shore, To fail Ambition's main; Fallacious as the harlot's kiss, You promise me uncertain bliss, And give me certain pain.

A beauteous prospect first you shew, Which ere survey'd you print anew, And paint it wond'rous pleasant: This in a third is quickly lost: Thus future good we covet most, But ne'er enjoy the present.

Deluded on from scene to scene, We never end, but still begin, By flatt'ring Hope betray'd; I'm weary of the painful chace, Let others ran this endless race To catch a flying shade.

Let others boast their useless wealth; Have I not honesty and health? Which riches cannot give: Let others to preferment soar, And, changing liberty for pow'r, In golden shackles live.

'Tis time, at length, I should be wise, 'Tis time to seek substantial joys; Joys out of Fortune's pow'r: Wealth, honours, dignities, and fame, Are toys the blind capricious dame Takes from us every hour.

Come, conscious Virtue, fill my breast, And bring Content, thy daughter, dress'd In ever-smiling charms: Let sacred Friendship too attend; A friendship worthy of my friend, Such as my LAELIUS warms.

With these I'll in my bosom make A bulwark Fortune cannot shake, Though all her storms arise; Look down and pity gilded slaves, Despise Ambition's giddy knaves, And wish the Fools were wise.