The loathsome rottenness, and foul decays From raging riot (slower suicides!) And pride in these, more execrable still! How horrid all to thought!--but horrors, these, That vouch the truth; and aid my feeble song. From vice, sense, fancy, no man can be blest: 1338 Bliss is too great, to lodge within an hour: When an immortal being aims at bliss, Duration is essential to the name. O for a joy from reason! joy from that, Which makes man Man; and, exercised aright, Will make him more: a bounteous joy! that gives And promises; that weaves, with art divine, The richest prospect into present peace: A joy ambitious! joy in common held With thrones ethereal, and their greater far; A joy high privileged from chance, time, death! A joy, which death shall double, judgment crown! 1350 Crown'd higher, and still higher, at each stage, Through bless'd eternity's long day; yet still, Not more remote from sorrow, than from Him, Whose lavish hand, whose love stupendous, pours So much of Deity on guilty dust. There, O my Lucia! may I meet thee there, Where not thy presence can improve my bliss! Affects not this the sages of the world? Can nought affect them, but what fools them too? Eternity, depending on an hour, 1360 Makes serious thought man's wisdom, joy, and praise, Nor need you blush (though sometimes your designs May shun the light) at your designs on heaven: Sole point! where over-bashful is your blame. Are you not wise?--You know you are: yet hear One truth, amid your numerous schemes, mislaid, Or overlook'd, or thrown aside, if seen; "Our schemes to plan by this world, or the next, Is the sole difference between wise and fool." All worthy men will weigh you in this scale; 1370 What wonder then, if they pronounce you light? 1371 Is their esteem alone not worth your care? Accept my simple scheme of common sense: Thus, save your fame, and make two worlds your own. The world replies not;--but the world persists; And puts the cause off to the longest day, Planning evasions for the day of doom. So far, at that re-hearing, from redress, They then turn witnesses against themselves; Hear that, Lorenzo! nor be wise to-morrow. 1380 Haste, haste! a man, by nature, is in haste; For who shall answer for another hour? 'Tis highly prudent, to make one sure friend; And that thou canst not do, this side the skies. Ye sons of earth! (nor willing to be more!) Since verse you think from priestcraft somewhat free, Thus, in an age so gay, the Muse plain truths (Truths, which, at church, you might have heard in prose) Has ventured into light; well pleased the verse Should be forgot, if you the truths retain; 1390 And crown her with your welfare, not your praise.