ON THE VICISSITUDES OF THINGS

“The constant lapse of rolling years

Awakes our hopes, provokes our fears

Of something yet unknown;

We saw the last year pass away,

But who, that lives can safely say,

The next shall be his own?”

So hundreds talk — and thousands more

Descant their moral doctrines o'er;

And when the preaching's done,

Each goes his various, wonted way,

To labour some, and some to play —

So goes the folly on.

How swift the vagrant seasons fly;

They're hardly born before they die,

Yet in their wild career,

Like atoms round the rapid wheel,

We seem the same, though changing still,

Mere reptiles of a year.

Some haste to seek a wealthy bride,

Some, rhymes to make on one that died;

And millions curse the day,

When first in Hymen's silken bands

The parson joined mistaken hands,

And bade the bride obey.

While sad Amelia vents her sighs,

In epitaphs and elegies,

For her departed dear,

Who would suppose the muffled bell,

And mourning gowns, were meant to tell,

Her grief will last — a year?

In folly's path how many meet —

What hosts will live to lie and cheat —

How many empty pates

May, in this wise, eventful year,

In native dignity appear

To manage Rising States!

How vain to sigh!— the wheel must on

And straws are to the whirlpool drawn,

With ships of gallant mien —

What has been once, may time restore;

What now exists, has been before —

Years only change the scene.

In endless circles all things move;

Below, about, far off, above,

This motion all attain —

If Folly's self should flit away,

She would return some New year's day,

With millions in her train.

Sun, moon, and stars, are each a sphere,

The earth the same, ( or very near ),

Sir Isaac has defined —

In circles each coin is cast,

And hence our cash departs so fast,

Cash — that no charm can bind.

From you to us — from us it rolls

To comfort other cloudy souls:—

If again we make it square,

Perhaps the uneasy guest will stay

To cheer us in some wintry day,

And smooth the brow of care.