Give me one hour in holy converse spent, 435

For a whole age of indolent content!

Give me the friend who guides my steps aright,

Nor fears to bring my errors to my sight:

With tenderness the heart’s fond guile unrobes,

But to the core with steady courage probes, 440

Points, as my path, not that I wish to see,

But the unbending right, as thou to me,

My long-loved friend! whose roof, a second home,

More welcome smiles than wealth’s most costly dome.