II. 1.

When first on Childhood's eager gaze
Life's varied landscape stretch'd immense around
Starts out of night profound,
Thy voice incites to tempt the wildering maze.
Fond he surveys thy mild maternal face,
His bashful eye still kindling as he views,
And, while thy lenient arm supports his pace,
With beating heart the upland path pursues;
The path, that leads, where, high uphung,
Seen far remote, Youth's gorgeous trophies, gay
In Fancy's vivid rainbow-ray,
Allure the eager throng.

II. 2.

Pursue thy pleasurable way,
Safe in the guidance of thy heavenly guard;
While melting airs are heard,
And soft-eyed Cherub-forms around thee play;
Simplicity, with careless flowers array'd,
Prattling amusive in his accent meek;
And Modesty, half turning as afraid,
The smile just dimpling on his glowing cheek;
Contentment pours the gentle strain;
While circled with an orb of wavy light
Fair Innocence with fearless flight
Leads on the jocund train.

II. 3.

Frail man, how various is thy lot below!
To-day, though gales propitious blow,
Though Peace soft-gliding down the sky
Bring Love along and Harmony,
Tomorrow the gay scene deforms;
Then all around, the thunder's sound
Rolls rattling on through heaven's profound,
And down rush all the storms.
Ye Days, that choicest influence shed,
When gay Childhood ever sprightly
O'er flowery regions sported lightly,
Whither, ah whither are ye fled!
Ye Cherub-train, that brought him on his way,
O leave him not midst tumult and dismay;
For now Youth's eminence he gains,
But what a weary length of lingering woe remains!