65 'But say Life's joys unmix'd were given To thee some favourite of Heaven: Within, without, tho' all were health-- Yet what e'en thus are Fame, Power, Wealth, But sounds that variously express, 70 What's thine already--Happiness! 'Tis thine the converse deep to hold With all the famous sons of old; And thine the happy waking dream While Hope pursues some favourite theme, 75 As oft when Night o'er Heaven is spread, Round this maternal seat you tread, Where far from splendour, far from riot, In silence wrapt sleeps careless Quiet. 'Tis thine with Fancy oft to talk, 80 And thine the peaceful evening walk; And what to thee the sweetest are-- The setting sun, the Evening Star-- The tints, which live along the sky, And Moon that meets thy raptur'd eye, 85 Where oft the tear shall grateful start, Dear silent pleasures of the Heart! Ah! Being blest, for Heaven shall lend To share thy simple joys a friend! Ah! doubly blest, if Love supply 90 His influence to complete thy joy, If chance some lovely maid thou find To read thy visage in thy mind. 'One blessing more demands thy care:-- Once more to Heaven address the prayer: 95 For humble independence pray The guardian genius of thy way; Whom (sages say) in days of yore Meek Competence to Wisdom bore, So shall thy little vessel glide 100 With a fair breeze adown the tide, And Hope, if e'er thou 'ginst to sorrow, Remind thee of some fair to-morrow, Till Death shall close thy tranquil eye While Faith proclaims "Thou shalt not die!"' 105 1791. FOOTNOTES: [30:1] First published in 1834. The poem was sent to George Coleridge in a letter dated June 22, 1791. An adapted version of ll. 80-105 was sent to Southey, July 13, 1794. LINENOTES: Title] Upon the Author's leaving school and entering into Life. MS. O (c). [6] tempt] dare MS. O, MS. O (c). [10] While] When MS. O, MS. O (c). [Between 11-13] How pants my breast before my eyes While Honour WAVES her radiant prize. And Emulation, &c. MS. O, MS. O (c). [22] To bend the head, to bow MS. O (c). [24] frowns] frown MS. O, MS. O (c). [25] in] of MS. O (c). [41] Deformed, choaked MS. O, MS. O (c). [45] brows] brow MS. O, MS. O (c). [55] magic] wonted MS. O, MS. O (c). [57] her frown] the fiend MS. O, MS. O (c). [68] Without, within MS. O, MS. O (c). [76] is] has MS O, MS. O (c). [77] _Note_--Christ's Hospital MS. O: Ottery S. Mary in Devonshire MS. O (c). [80-1] 'Tis thine with faery forms to talk And thine the philosophic walk. Letter to Southey, 1794. [84] which] that MS. O, MS. O (c), Letter, 1794. [85] And] The Letter, 1794.