LI.

Vain hope! Alas! unable to forget
The anxious task's long, heavy agonies,
In broken sleep the victim labours yet!
Waiting the boding stroke that bids him rise,
He marks in restless fear each hour that flies —
Anticipates the unwelcome morning prime —
And murmuring feebly, with unwakened eyes,
" Mother! Oh Mother! is it yet THE Time ? " —
Starts at the moon's pale ray — or clock's far distant chime.

LII.

Such is his day and night! Now then return
Where your O WN slumber in protected ease;
They whom no blast may pierce, no sun may burn;
The lovely, on whose cheeks the wandering breeze
Hath left the rose's hue. Ah! not like these
Does the pale infant-labourer ask to be:
He craves no tempting food — no toys to please —
Not Idleness, — but less of agony;
Not Wealth, — but comfort, rest, C ONTENTED P OVERTY .

LIII.

There is, among all men, in every clime,
A difference instinctive and unschooled:
God made the M IND unequal. From all time
By fierceness conquered, or by cunning fooled,
The World hath had its Rulers and its Ruled: —
Yea — uncompelled — men abdicate free choice,
Fear their own rashness, and, by thinking cooled,
Follow the counsel of some trusted voice; —
A self-elected sway, wherein their souls rejoice.

LIV.

Thus, for the most part, willing to obey,
Men rarely set Authority at naught:
Albeit a weaker or a worse than they
May hold the rule with such importance fraught:
And thus the peasant, from his cradle taught
That some must own , while some must till the land,
Rebels not — murmurs not — even in his thought.
Born to his lot, he bows to high command,
And guides the furrowing plough with a contented hand.

LV.

But, if the weight which habit renders light
Is made to gall the Serf who bends below —
The dog that watched and fawned, prepares to bite!
Too rashly strained, the cord snaps from the bow —
Too tightly curbed, the steeds their riders throw —
And so, (at first contented his fair state
Of customary servitude to know,)
Too harshly ruled, the poor man learns to hate
And curse the oppressive law that bids him serve the Great.