Look not alone on youthful prime, On manhood’s active might; Man then is useful to his kind, Supported is his right: But see him on the edge of life, With cares and sorrows worn, Then age and want--oh, ill-match’d pair! Show man was made to mourn! A few seem favourites of fate, In pleasure’s lap carest, Yet think not all the rich and great Are likewise truly blest: But oh, what crowds in every land Are wretched and forlorn! Through weary life this lesson learn, That man was made to mourn! Many and sharp the num’rous ills Inwoven with our frame, More pointed still we make ourselves, Regret, remorse, and shame! And man, whose heaven-erected face The smiles of love adorn, Man’s inhumanity to man, Makes countless thousands mourn! See yonder poor o’er-labour’d wight, So abject, mean, and vile, Who begs a brother of the earth To give him leave to toil; And see his lordly fellow worm The poor petition spurn, Unmindful though a weeping wife And helpless offspring mourn! If I’m design’d yon lordling’s slave, By nature’s law design’d, Why was an independent wish E’er planted in my mind? If not, why am I subject to His cruelty or scorn? Or why has man the will and power To make his fellow mourn? Yet let not this too much, my son, Disturb thy youthful breast; This partial view of human kind Is surely not the best! The poor, oppressed, honest man Had surely ne’er been born, Had there not been some recompense To comfort those that mourn! Oh Death! the poor man’s dearest friend, The kindest and the best, Welcome the hour my aged limbs Are laid with thee at rest; The great, the wealthy fear thy blow, From pomp and pleasure torn, But oh! a blest relief to those Who weary laden mourn! ❦ Two opposite opinions should not lie on the same bolster. ❦ Afflictions are sent us by Providence to teach us to recollect our ways. ❦ [Sidenote: Sir Thomas More.] Quod mihi dixisti, De corpore Christi, Crede quod edas, et edis; Sic tibi rescribo De tuo Palfrido, Crede quod habeas, ut habes. This was a witty satire on the zeal of Sir Thomas for the dogma of the Romish church, Transubstantiation. ❦ It was by Sir Thomas More that Hans Holbein was introduced to King Henry VIII. He resided during three years at his patron’s house at Chelsea. Holbein was born at Augsburgh in 1495 or 8. His father was a citizen of that place, and an esteemed painter. At Basil in Switzerland he became known to Erasmus, who sent him with his introduction to England, to Sir Thomas More. ❦ [Sidenote: Thought.]