Happiness Always Future

THE Mind, from Reason's earliest ray,
Till freed from her imprisoning clay,
Her every power employs,
The aerial form of Happiness to gain,
But all, alas! in vain,
Ever pursues, but ne'er enjoys.
For thou, O Happiness, Elysium's queen,
Distant, more distant, still art seen;
Thy airy throne some fairy bower,
Form'd of each beauteous glowing flower;
Whilst thou in this thy magic car,
On wings of sylphs art borne afar;
Thy votary says, when Time some point hast gain'd,
He brings a bliss yet unpossest,
(By bright Imagination drawn,
In colours radiant as the morn)
That favourite wish obtain'd,
I live with Happiness completely blest.
But ah! the long sought phantom near,
Its shadowy beauties disappear;
Thou, Happiness, hast changed thy loved retreat,
With some more distant object fixt thy seat,
That deck'd with each alluring smile,
In novel charms is seen,
Tho' Disappointment, born of Guile,
So often steps between;
Hope, led by Fancy ever young,
The new design pursues,
While Expectation's flattering tongue
The soothing tale renews.
Th' enchantress Pleasure oft thy garb assumes,
To personate thy angel form presumes,
And lures mankind to wear her silken chain;
Enraptured on her glaring mien they gaze,
Till tangled in th' inextricable maze,
The sorceress swift before them flies,
And when in thought they hold the dazzling prize,
She drops her mask they grasp substantial pain.
Thou, Happiness, wast ne'er design'd
To pour thy bright effulgence o'er the mind,
While in her mortal cell of fragile clay;
Yet shall her ardent steps thy flight pursue,
Those blissful realms for ever in her view,
Where thy unclouded smiles beam forth eternal day.