Easter Holidays

VERSE 1st Hail! festal Easter that dost bring Approach of sweetly-smiling spring,         When Nature's clad in green: When feather'd songsters through the grove With beasts confess the power of love         And brighten all the scene. VERSE 2nd Now youths the breaking stages load That swiftly rattling o'er the road         To Greenwich haste away: While some with sounding oars divide Of smoothly-flowing Thames the tide         All sing the festive lay. VERSE 3rd With mirthful dance they beat the ground, Their shouts of joy the hills resound         And catch the jocund noise: Without a tear, without a sigh Their moments all in transports fly         Till evening ends their joys. VERSE 4th But little think their joyous hearts Of dire Misfortune's varied smarts         Which youthful years conceal: Thoughtless of bitter-smiling Woe Which all mankind are born to know         And they themselves must feel. VERSE 5th Yet he who Wisdom's paths shall keep And Virtue firm that scorns to weep         At ills in Fortune's power, Through this life's variegated scene In raging storms or calm serene         Shall cheerful spend the hour. VERSE 6th While steady Virtue guides his mind Heav'n-born Content he still shall find         That never sheds a tear: Without respect to any tide His hours away in bliss shall glide         Like Easter all the year.