THE POETRY OF LIFE.

"Who would himself with shadows entertain,

Or gild his life with lights that shine in vain,

Or nurse false hopes that do but cheat the true?

Though with my dream my heaven should be resign'd—

Though the free-pinion'd soul that now can dwell

In the large empire of the Possible,

This work-day life with iron chains may bind,

Yet thus the mastery o'er ourselves we find,