“Good friend,” said Hal, and sigh’d the while,
“Farewell and happy be;
But say no more, if thou’dst be true,
That no one envies thee;
Thy mealy cap is worth my crown,
Thy mill my kingdom’s fee,
Such men as thou are England’s boast,
Oh, miller of the Dee.”
All’s for the Best.
All’s for the best! be sanguine and cheerful;
Trouble and sorrow are friends in disguise,
Nothing but folly goes faithless and fearing,
Courage forever! is happy and wise.
All’s for the best! if a man would but know it,
Providence wishes that all may be blest,
This is no dream of the pundit or poet,
Fact is not fancy, and all’s for the best!
Chorus.—All’s for the best! All’s for the best!
Fact is not fancy, and all’s for the best.
All’s for the best: set this on your standard,
Soldier of sadness, or pilgrim of love,
Who to the shores of despair may have wander’d
A way-wearied swallow, or heart-stricken dove.
All’s for the best! be a man, but confiding,
Providence tenderly governs the rest,
And the frail bark of his creature is guiding
Wisely and warily, all’s for the best!
Chorus.—All’s for the best, &c,
All’s for the best dispel idle terrors,
Meet all your fears and your foes in the van,
And in the midst of your dangers and errors,
Trust like a child, and strive like a man.
All’s for the best! unfailing, unbounded,
Providence wishes that all may be blest,
And both by wisdom and mercy surrounded,
Hope and be happy, then all’s for the best!
Chorus.—All’s for the best! All’s for the best!
Hope and be happy, then all’s for the best.