LET him that will be free and keep his heart from care, Retired alone, remain where no discomforts are. For when the eye doth view his grief, or hapless ear his sorrow hears, Th' impression still in him abides, and ever in one shape appears. Forget thy griefs betimes; long sorrow breeds long pain, For joy far fled from men, will not return again; O happy is the soul which heaven ordained to life in endless peace! His life is a pleasing dream, and every hour his joys increase. You heavy sprites, that love in severed shades to dwell, That nurse despair and dream of unrelenting hell, Come sing this happy song, and learn of me the Art of the True Content! Load not your guilty souls with wrong, and heaven then will soon relent. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PENT by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON FRANCIS II, KING OF NAPLES; SONNET by AMY LOWELL ON A YOUNG LADY'S SIXTH ANNIVERSARY by KATHERINE MANSFIELD DOMESDAY BOOK: JANE FISHER by EDGAR LEE MASTERS REMBRANDT TO REMBRANDT by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON |