Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-02-17
Select 4oetru.
ODE TO HAPPINESS.

ODE TO HAPPINESS.
Oa say where art thou to be found,
Whom all mankind alike pursue,
In dissipation's madd ming round,
Or midst the proud exalted few {;
Say dost thou with the courtier dwell,
Or In the hermit's lonely cell
Residest thou, As Poets say,
Midst woods and lawns and purling rills
Dost thou with nymphs and shepherds stra
Der flow'ry meads and sloping hills {;
With wrcaths of olive art thou crowned,
Or ere thy brows with laurels bound
Dost thou, with love-sick swains and maids
Repose on banks of scented flowers,
Or seek with them the cooling shades
OF jessamine and myrtle bowers {;
With rosy fingers to prepare
A wreath to bind their flowing hair
Or dost thou meet the Poets gaze,
And as he lightly moves along
In Fancy's gay, bcwildered maze,
Dost thou attend each raptured song;
Or dost thou while he wakes the Tyre,
Each cord Of extacy inspire
Presid'st thou Ger the sparkling bowl;
With ivy are thy vot'ries crown'd;
Dost thou expand each joyous soul,
While circulates the glass around;
Dost thou the midnight revel guide,
And share the goblet's purple tide
Or dost thou midst the awful gloom
OF monasteries with holy maids,
Fer hover round the living tomb,
To gild cloister's pensive shades
To whatsoe'er thou dost incline,
Oh lot that state, sweet nymph, be mine.
For sure the peevish cynic feigns,
Who calls thee unsubstantial form,
Tha, only in idea reigns
While youth and health the bosom warm.
Twas Happiness thus addressed,
And scarce tn intruding tear suppressed.
Harmonious as the Syren' s song,
In soothing accents she replied
go none exclusive belong.
To none exclusive am denied,
But If my dwelling you would find.
Oh seek o calm, contented mind
sTis not with Dissipation sons,
Nor in the mansions of the proud
Their thoughtless JOY my presence shuns'
mingle not amidst the crowd
I'm courts my form is seldom seen,
pfies TO bless the mind serene.
Idwell not with the gay and great,
wait not on the Victors car.
For kings NAV crouch beneath his feet.
While Happiness is distant far;
Delighting in the olive bough,
weave no garlands for his brow.
Near some clear fount or myrtle grove,
With lovers when deign to stray.
If e'et suspicion, foe torove,
Appears, vanish far away:
Nor visit the hermitage,
IF virtue dwell not with the sage.
Arcadia was my lov'd retreat,
tuned each pipe, bound each brook;
But ah left the blissful seat,
When innocence their breast forsook
For never were my gifts bestowed,
If vice approached the sweet abode.
To me the Bards address their lays.
To me they pour the raptured strain'
Eva while faded form betrays
The victim of disease and pain
Or while pale Envy baleful breathes,
TO wither oil their blooming wreaths.
Gay Bacchus' sons DER bowls Of wine,
Pretend they are of me possessed,
That I, beneath the spreading vine,
Alone inspire each joyous breast;
But dif'rent far the maddning power,
That crowns wild riots festive hour.
II then, thou wouldst my presence seek,
Be thine heart correct and pure,
Be thine to dry affliction's check,
And comfort, if thou canst not cure
Be thine the sacred bliss to know,
Religion only can bestow.
When sge that chilling damp shall pour,
That mildews all the buds of spring.
Then Mem'ry from her treasured store.
The days of former years shall bring;
And en'n amidst thy closing scene,
Thine evening sun shall beam serene.