Fair smiles the morn along the azure sky, Calm and serene the zephyrs whisper by, And many a flow'ret gems the painted plain; As down the dale, with perfumes sweet, The cheerful pilgrim turns his feet, His thirsty ear imbibes the throstle's strain; And every bird that loves to sing The choral song to coming spring, Tunes the wild lay symphonious through the grove, Heaven, earth, and nature, all incite to love. Ah, pilgrim! stay thy heedless feet, Distrust each soul-subduing sweet, Dash down alluring pleasure's deadly bowl, For thro' thy frame the venom'd juice will creep, Lull reason's powers to sombrous sleep, And stain with sable hue the spotless soul; For soon the valley's charms decay, In haggard griefs ill omen'd sway, And barren rocks shall hide the cheering light of day: Then reason strives in vain, Extinguish'd hope's enchanting beam for aye, And virtue sinks beneath the galling chain, And sorrow deeply drains her lethal bowl, And sullen fix'd despair benumbs the nerveless soul. Yet on the summit of yon craggy steep Stands Hope, surrounded with a blaze of light; She bids the wretch no more despondent weep, Or linger in the loathly realms of night; And Science comes, celestial maid! As mild as good she comes to aid, To smooth the rugged steep with magic power, And fill with many a wile the longly-lingering hour. Fair smiles the morn, in all the hues of day Array'd, the wide horizon streams with light; Anon the dull mists blot the living ray, And darksome clouds presage the stormy night: Yet may the sun anew extend his ray, Anew the heavens may shine in splendour bright; Anew the sunshine gild the lucid plain, And nature's frame reviv'd, may thank the genial rain. And what, my friend, is life? What but the many weather'd April day! Now darkly dimm'd by clouds of strife, Now glowing in propitious fortune's ray; Let the reed yielding bend its weakly form, For, firm in rooted strength, the oak defies the storm. If thou hast plann'd the morrow's dawn to roam O'er distant hill or plain, Wilt thou despond in sadness at thy home, Whilst heaven drops down the rain? Or will thy hope expect the coming day, When bright the sun may shine with unremitted ray?