Poem 20

Relentless Time! destroying power,Whom stone and brass obey,Who giv'st to every flying hourTo work some new decay;Unheard, unheeded, and unseen,Thy secret saps prevail,And ruin man, a nice machine,By nature form'd to fail.My change arrives; the change I meet,Before I thought it nigh:My spring, my years of pleasure fleet,And all their beauties die.In age I search, and only findA poor unfruitful gain,Grave Wisdom stalking slow behind,Oppress'd with loads of pain.My ignorance could once beguile,And fancied joys inspire;My errors cherish'd Hope to smileOn newly-born Desire.But now experience shews the blissFor which I fondly sought,Not worth the long impatient wish,And ardour of the thought.My youth met Fortune fair array'd,(In all her pomp she shone,)

And might, perhaps, have well essay'dTo make her gifts my own:But when I saw the blessings showerOn some unworthy mind,I left the chase, and own'd the powerWas justly painted blind.I pass'd the glories which adornThe splendid courts of kings,And while the persons mov'd my scorn,I rose to scorn the things.My manhood felt a vigorous fire,By love increased the more;But years with coming years conspireTo break the chains I wore.In weakness safe, the sex I seeWith idle lustre shine;For what are all their joys to me,Which cannot now be mine?But hold—I feel my gout decrease,My troubles laid to rest,And truths, which would disturb my peace,Are painful truths at best.Vainly the time I have to rollIn sad reflection flies;Ye fondling passions of my soul!Ye sweet deceits! arise.I wisely change the scene within,To things that us'd to please;In pain, philosophy is spleen,In health, 'tis only ease.