. Night thoughts. riarch pupil would be learning still;Yet, dying, leave his lesson perish in advance, as if the sunShould set ere noon, in eastern oceans drownd; 90(If fit, with dim, illustrious to compare,Ihe suns meridian with the soul of Man.)To Man, AVhy, step-dame Nature so severe? Why thrown aside thy master-piece half-wrought,AVhile meaner cfTorts thy last hand enjoy? 95 Or, if abortively, poor Man must reach, what reach he might, why die in dread?AVhy curst with foresight? AVise to misery? AVhy of his proud prerogative the prey? AVhy less pre-eminent in rank,
. Night thoughts. riarch pupil would be learning still;Yet, dying, leave his lesson perish in advance, as if the sunShould set ere noon, in eastern oceans drownd; 90(If fit, with dim, illustrious to compare,Ihe suns meridian with the soul of Man.)To Man, AVhy, step-dame Nature so severe? Why thrown aside thy master-piece half-wrought,AVhile meaner cfTorts thy last hand enjoy? 95 Or, if abortively, poor Man must reach, what reach he might, why die in dread?AVhy curst with foresight? AVise to misery? AVhy of his proud prerogative the prey? AVhy less pre-eminent in rank, than pain? 100 His immortality alone can tell; Full ample fund to balance all amiss, And turn the scale in favour of the just!His immortality alone can solve That darkest of enigmas, human hope; 105 Of all the darkest, if at death we die. Hope, eager Hope, th assassin of our joy. All present blessings treading under foot. Is scarce a milder tyrant than Despair. AVith no past toils content, still planning new, 110. Z*^/ i6i ^i^^o4B^ . THE INFIDEL RECLAIMED. 163 Hope turns us oer to Death alone for , why, more tasteless than Pursuit?Why is a wish far dearer than a crown ?That wish accomplishd, why, the grave of bliss?Because, in the great future buryd deep, 115 Beyond our plans of empire, and renown,Lies all that Man with ardour should pursue;And He who made him, bent him to the right. Mans heart thAlmighty to the future sets,By secret and inviolable springs; 120 And makes his hope his sublunary heart eats all things, and is hungry still; More, more! the glutton cries: For something newSo rages appetite, if Man cant will descend. He starves on the possest. 125 Hence, the worlds master, from ambitions Caprea plungd; and divd beneath the that rank sty why wallowd empires sonSupreme? Because he could no higher fly;His riot was ambition in despair. 130 Old Rome consulted birds;
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