Classic Poem

Hope ! lively cheerer of the mind,
In lieu of real bliss design'd,
Come from thy ever verdant bower
To chace the dull and ling'ring hour;
O! bring, attending on thy reign,
All thy ideal fairy train,
To animate the lifeless clay,
And bear my sorrows hence away.

Hence gloomy-featur'd black Despair,
With all thy frantic furies fly,
Nor rend my breast with gnawing Care,
For Hope in lively garb is nigh;

Let pining Discontentment mourn,
Let dull-ey'd Melancholy grieve,
Since pleasing Hope must reign by turn,
And ev'ry bitter thought relieve.

O smiling Hope in adverse hour,
I feel thy influencing power:
Tho' frowning Fortune fix my lot,
In some defenceless lonely cot,
Where Poverty, with empty hands,
In pallid meagre aspect stands;
Thou canst enrobe me, 'midst the great,
With all the crimson pomp of state,
Where Luxury invites his guests
To pall them with his lavish feasts:
What cave so dark, what gloom so drear,
So black with horror, dead with fear!
But thou canst dart thy streaming ray,
And change close night to open day.

Health is attendant in thy radiant train,
Round her the whisp'ring zephyrs gently play,
Behold her gladly tripping o'er the plain,
Bedeck'd with rural sweets and garlands gay.
When vital spirits are depress'd,
And heavy languor clogs the breast,
Comforting Hope! 'tis thine to cure,
Devoid of Esculapian power;
For oft thy friendly aid avails,
When all the strength of physic fails.

Nay, even tho' death should aim his dart,
I know he lifts his arm in vain,
Since thou this lesson canst impart,
Mankind but die to live again.

Depriv'd of thee must banners fall;
But where a living Hope is found,
The legions shout at danger's call,
And vict'ries are triumphant crown'd.

Come then, bright Hope! in smiles array'd,
Revive us by thy quick'ning breath,
Then shall we never be afraid
To walk thro' danger and thro' death.