JT-57-ON SOLITUDE.

ON SOLITUDE.

Ye silent shades I now have found ye,
Conceal me from the multitude;
Enclose your leafy wreaths around me,
Nor let a vagrant foot intrude;
Here let me drink your cooling fountains,
And hear sweet birds attune their lays,
Along the dells and rising mountains,
O, let me hear what wisdom says.

’Tis here I long have wished to wander,
Far from the noisy scenes of life;
O! give me now some time to ponder,
And live secluded from all strife;
O let me build my cottage lowly,
And spent my life’s short remnant here,
And as I walk the green moss slowly,
I’ll wipe away the world’s cold tear.

Let others boast their carnal pleasure,
And feast on what the world contains,
I’ll envy not their golden treasure,
Nor all the spoils of conquered plains;
Content with charms of nature’s glory,
I’ll seek no more of human pride,
Nor longer or hear the fatal story,
Of those who swim her silv’ry tide.

The boasted soldier, long victorious,
All laureled over with rising fame,
Must soon be conquered--fall inglorious.
And hear no more his sounding name:
The gorgeous monarchs--pride of nations,
The lords of all the earth below;
O see them leave their pompous stations,
And down to dust and silence go.

I see the forest leaves are faded,
And all the flowery plains decay,
Like age, by foul diseases aided,
Turn pale and wither into clay;
My moments like an arrow flying,
Convey me swiftly to the ground,
Soon my friends may see me dying,
And shed their needless tears around.

The stormy winds around me roaring,
Now strip the green leaf foliage bare,
Here as I sit this life deploring,
I see death’s image travel there;
What sweets, I ask, can earth afford me,
In all her pomp and airy show,
When crippled age with sorrows load me,
When death shall strike his fatal blow!

Here in a mood of gloomy sadness,
O let me think of future time;
Here let me rise in silent gladness,
While I survey your heavenly clime;
There cease those sorrows, tears and sighing,
That fill my heart with bursting grief,
There sound those songs of Christians vying,
Who find salvation and relief.