Page:Poems - Lewis (1812).djvu/26

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10
POEMS.
He ne'er perceives from every eyeContemptuous glances sent;He ne'er suspects that keen replyTo mock his folly meant:Half-stifled laugh, retort severe,Bombastic praise, and open sneer,In him no anguish cause;To modest fear his soul is dead,And if in scorn you wave your head,He thinks you nod applause.
Vain happy Thing! for one like thingMy soul to change I sue,At errors past who still repine,Though still committing new!Where folly leads, I darkling stray,With thorns while Reason strews my way,And paints in colours strongEach fault to shock my conscious sight;But never warns me what is right,'Till certain that I'm wrong.
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