Self-Knowlege
A LAS ! too busy to be wise,
Or else in sloth's amusements wand'ring,
We scarce will ever turn our eyes
Upon ourselves, with serious pond'ring.
On ev'ry toy abroad we gaze,
Ourselves we shun, at home are strangers;
And round and round in error's maze
We trifle on, eternal rangers.
If e'er, perchance, we look within,
Self-love, our fancy'd virtues pleading,
Hoodwinks the judgment; lurking sin
And swarming specks averse from heeding.
Vain-glory hence, and fierce disdain
Of wise benevolent monition;
Hence fury, when the Good arraign
Our envy, av'rice, or ambition.
Establish'd thus, ill habits grow
Too strong to yield to self-correction;
Too high for reason (dreadful woe!)
To awe their frenzy to subjection.
Or else in sloth's amusements wand'ring,
We scarce will ever turn our eyes
Upon ourselves, with serious pond'ring.
On ev'ry toy abroad we gaze,
Ourselves we shun, at home are strangers;
And round and round in error's maze
We trifle on, eternal rangers.
If e'er, perchance, we look within,
Self-love, our fancy'd virtues pleading,
Hoodwinks the judgment; lurking sin
And swarming specks averse from heeding.
Vain-glory hence, and fierce disdain
Of wise benevolent monition;
Hence fury, when the Good arraign
Our envy, av'rice, or ambition.
Establish'd thus, ill habits grow
Too strong to yield to self-correction;
Too high for reason (dreadful woe!)
To awe their frenzy to subjection.
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