Classic Poem

The midnight moon serenely smiles,
O'er nature's soft repose;
No low'ring cloud obscures the sky,
Nor ruffling tempest blows.

Now ev'ry passion sinks to rest,
The throbbing heart lies still,
And varying schemes of life no more
Distract the lab'ring will.

In silence hush'd, to reason's voice
Attends each mental pow'r:
Come, dear E MILIA , and enjoy
Reflexion's fav'rite hour.

Come: while the peaceful scene invites,
Let's search this ample round;
Where shall the lovely fleeting form
Of Happiness be found?

Does it amidst the frolic mirth
Of gay assemblies dwell?
Or hide beneath the solemn gloom,
That shades the hermit's cell?

How oft the laughing brow of joy
A sick'ning heart conceals!
And thro' the cloister's deep recess,
Invading sorrow steals!

In vain thro' beauty, fortune, wit,
The fugitive we trace:
It dwells not in the faithless smile,
That brightens C LODIO'S face.

Perhaps the joy to these deny'd,
The heart in friendship finds:
Ah! dear delusion! gay conceit
Of visionary minds!

Howe'er our varying notions rove,
Yet all agree in one,
To place it's being in some state,
At distance from our own.

O blind to each indulgent aim,
Of pow'r supremely wise,
Who fancy happiness in aught
The hand of heav'n denies!

Vain is alike the joy we seek,
And vain what we possess,
Unless harmonious reason tunes
The passions into peace.

To temper'd wishes, just desires,
Is happiness confin'd,
And, deaf to folly's call, attends
The music of the mind.