Wherefore to-night so full of care

Wherefore to-night so full of care,

My soul, revolving hopeless strife,

Pointing at hindrance, and the bare

Painful escapes of fitful life?

Shaping the doom that may befall

By precedent of terror past:

By love dishonoured, and the call

Of friendship slighted at the last?

By treasured names, the little store

That memory out of wreck could save

Of loving hearts, that gone before

Call their old comrade to the grave?

O soul, be patient: thou shalt find

A little matter mend all this;

Some strain of music to thy mind,

Some praise for skill not spent amiss.

Again shall pleasure overflow

Thy cup with sweetness, thou shalt taste

Nothing but sweetness, and shalt grow

Half sad for sweetness run to waste.

O happy life! I hear thee sing,

O rare delight of mortal stuff!

I praise my days for all they bring,

Yet are they only not enough.