Rocking of the cradle, or, Hushy-ba baby/The generous soul
THE GENEROUS SOUL.
LET Epicures boast of their delicate feasts,
let drunkards enjoy their full bowl;
⟨They⟩ senst gives content tho' but homely the fare,
(illegible text)l stile it the feast of the Soul
⟨Pleasure⟩ result from an earnest desire
⟨to⟩ amuse and enliven the whole;
(illegible text) pleasure is mine, and I'll strive to inspire
⟨the⟩ same in each Generous Soul.
(illegible text) mostly pedantic may boast of his power,
⟨which⟩ generous thought to controul;
⟨about⟩ stoical apathy, reason ne’er checks
⟨the⟩ social delights of the Soul.
⟨The⟩ beneficent hand of kind Nature has spread
profusion of sweets through the whole;
(illegible text) who would refuse of her bounties to taste
(illegible text)t a sour and a splendid Soul.
Be our passions the gale, and let reason but flee
then safe down the stream shall we roll;
And enjoy in the passage each pleasure that springs
each social delight of the Soul.
With reason we'll take of the pleasures of life,
with reason partake of the bowl;
And the blessings of health, love and friendship she crow,
from whence springs the joys of the Soul.
Let us cherish the gift as a bounty most rare,
let us seize on Old Time as it roll;
And when Nature forbids it, let's calmly resign
the social delights of the Soul.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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