O, is it all forgot?
All school-days' friendship, childhood innocence?
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 3, Sc 2
IN the
morning of our
days, when the
senses are
unworn and
tender, when the
whole man is
awake in
every part, and
the gloss of
novelty fresh
upon all
the objects that
surround us, how
lively
at that
time are our sensations, but
how false and
inaccurate the
judgments we form
of things ! I
despair of
ever receiving the
same degree of
pleasure from
the most excellent
performances of
genius, which
I felt at
that age from
pieces which
my present judgment regards as trifling and contemptible.
BURKE.
An idle poet, here and there.
Looks round
him : but,
for all the
rest
The world,
unfathomably fair.
Is duller
than a witling's
jest.
Love wakes
men, once a
lifetime each ;
They lift
their heavy eyes,
and look ;
And, lo,
what one sweet
page can teach,
They read
with joy, then
shut the book.
And some
give thanks, and
some blaspheme.
And most
forget ; but, either
way.
That and
the Child's unheeded
dream
Is all
the light of
all their day.
COVENTRY PATMORE.
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