Beyond is all abyss, eternity, whose end no eye can reach.
Lifted up so high I disdained subjection, and thought one step higher would set me highest.
And feel by turns the bitter change Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more fierce.
On the tawny sands and shelves trip the pert fairies and the dapper elves.
Faithful found among the faithless.
Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls his watery labyrinth, which whoso drinks forgets both joy and grief.
The spirit of man, which God inspired, cannot together perish with this corporeal clod.
Sense of pleasure we may well Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, But live content, which is the calmest life; But pain is perfect misery, the worst Of evils, and excessive, overturns All patience.
But infinite in pardon is my Judge.
Who can in reason then or right assume monarchy over such as live by right his equals, if in power or splendor less, in freedom equal?
Evil, be thou my good.
Among the writers of all ages, some deserve fame, and have it; others neither have nor deserve it; some have it, not deserving it; others, though deserving it, yet totally miss it, or have it not equal to their deserts.
God, who oft descends to visit men Unseen, and through their habitations walks To mark their doings.
What can ’scape the eye Of God, all-seeing, or deceive His heart. Omniscient!
My heart contains of good, wise, just, the perfect shape.
By a certain fate, great acts, and great eloquence have most commonly gone hand in hand, equalling and honoring each other in the same ages.
And feel that I am happier than I know.
God has set labor and rest, as day and night to men successive.
For no falsehood can endure Touch of celestial temper.
And in their motions harmony divine So smoothes her charming tones, that God’s own ear Listens delighted.