and splendor crowned; 45
  Ye fields, where summer spreads profusion round;
  Ye lakes, whose vessels catch the busy gale;
  Ye bending swains,[6] that dress the flow’ry vale;
  For me your tributary stores combine: 
  Creation’s heir, the world, the world is mine. 50

  As some lone miser, visiting his store,
  Bends at his treasure, counts, recounts it o’er;
  Hoards after hoards his rising raptures fill,
  Yet still he sighs, for hoards are wanting still: 
  Thus to my breast alternate passions rise, 55
  Pleased with each good that Heaven to man supplies: 
  Yet oft a sigh prevails, and sorrows fall,
  To see the hoard of human bliss so small;
  And oft I wish amidst the scene to find
  Some spot to real happiness consigned, 60
  Where my worn soul, each wand’ring hope at rest,
  May gather bliss to see my fellows blest.

  But where to find that happiest spot below
  Who can direct, when all pretend to know? 
  The shudd’ring tenant of the frigid zone 65
  Boldly proclaims that happiest spot his own;
  Extols the treasures of his stormy seas,
  And his long nights of revelry and ease: 
  The naked negro, panting at the line,[7]
  Boasts of his golden sands and palmy wine, 70
  Basks in the glare, or stems the tepid wave,
  And thanks his gods for all the good they gave. 
  Such is the patriot’s boast where’er we roam;
  His first, best country ever is at home. 
  And yet, perhaps, if countries we compare, 75
  And estimate the blessings which they share,
  Though patriots flatter, still shall wisdom find
  An equal portion dealt to all mankind;
  As different good, by Art or Nature given,
  To different nations makes their blessings even. 80

  Nature, a mother kind alike to all,
  Still grants her bliss at Labor’s earnest call: 
  With food as well the peasant is supplied
  On Idra’s cliffs[8] as Arno’s shelvy side;[9]
  And though the rocky crested summits frown, 85
  These rocks by custom turn to beds of down. 
  From Art more various are the blessings sent;
  Wealth, commerce, honor, liberty, content. 
  Yet these each other’s power so strong contest,
  That either seems destructive of the rest.[10] 90
  Where wealth and freedom reign, contentment fails
  And honor sinks where commerce long prevails.[11]
  Hence every state, to one loved blessing prone,
  Conforms and models life to that alone. 
  Each to the favorite happiness attends, 95
  And spurns the plan that aims at other ends: 
  Till carried to excess in each domain,
  This fav’rite good begets peculiar pain.

  But let us try these truths with closer eyes,
  And trace them through the prospect as it lies:  100
  Here for a while my proper cares[12] resigned,
  Here let me sit in sorrow for mankind;
  Like yon neglected shrub at random cast,
  That shades the steep, and sighs at every blast.