Ah! few and evil are the days of man,
How little to enjoy, or hope for, here;
Yet ev'n within this life's contracted span,
How much there is to suffer and to fear!

So soon as are the days of childhood past,
So soon are all our pleasures gone away,
For with the term of innocence they last,
And with the term of innocence decay:

The joy and peace that crown'd our early day
No future period shall again restore;
How very soon, alas! they're gone away,
When once departed, to return no more.

Love's feverish heats invade the youthful veins,
And flatter fancy with imagin'd joy;
But, dearly bought its pleasures by its pains,
While future peace and virtue they destroy.

Ah! see the youth, to the unhallow'd flame,
By passion long indulg'd, become a slave!
Ah! see him stript of fortune, health, and fame,
And sunk unpity'd to an early grave.

Dig we the mine of av'rice wealth to gain?
Or, seeking honour, plow ambition's soil?
How oft our labour's exercis'd in vain,
And disappointment is the fruit of toil!

Let heaps of shining riches swell our store,
Its highest dignities let pow'r bestow;
Who is so rich as not to wish for more?
Who is so pow'rful,—not to fear a foe?

Can all the wealth, the pow'r, by kings possest,
Or from disease, or from misfortune, save,
Give to a troubled mind its wish'd-for rest,
Or rescue one poor victim from the grave?

Why seek from earth enjoyment to attain,
Since ev'ry pleasure closes with a sigh?
At last we're forc'd, when long we've sought in vain,
To own the folly of the search, and die.

But life, though short and evil it appear,
God gave not vainly, nor should we despise;
For life, though short, if spent in virtue here,
Through evil leads to glory in the skies.

Religion, 'tis from life removes its gloom;
Religion 'tis that smooths its rugged way;
And points beyond the regions of the tomb,
To the bright mansions of eternal day.