It is an irksome word and task; And, when he 's laughed and said his say, He shows, as he removes the mask, A face that 's anything but gay. One word, ere yet the evening ends, Good night!-I 'd say, the griefs, the joys, Just hinted in this mimic page, The triumphs and defeats of boys, Are but repeated in our age. I'd say, your woes were not less keen, Your hopes more vain, than those of men; Your pangs or pleasures of fifteen At forty-five played o'er again. I'd say, we suffer and we strive, And if, in time of sacred youth, We learned at home to love and pray, Pray Heaven that early Love and Truth May never wholly pass away. 24 16 8 And in the world, as in the school, I'd say, how fate may change and shift; The prize be sometimes with the fool, The race not always to the swift. The strong may yield, the good may fall, The great man be a vulgar clown, The knave be lifted over all, The kind cast pitilessly down. 40 Who knows the inscrutable design? That's free to give, or to recall. This crown his feast with wine and wit: 48 Who brought him to that mirth and state? His betters, see, below him sit, Or hunger hopeless at the gate. Who bade the mud from Dives' wheel 56 So each shall mourn, in life's advance, Amen! whatever fate be sent, Pray God the heart may kindly glow. Although the head with cares be bent. And whitened with the winter snow. Come wealth or want, come good or ill, And bear it with an honest heart, Go, lose or conquer as you can; But if you fail, or if you rise, Be each, pray God, a gentleman. A gentleman, or old or young! (Bear kindly with my humble lays); And peace on earth to gentle men! My song, save this, is little worth: I lay the weary pen aside, And wish you health, and love, and mirth, As fits the solemn Christmastide. As fits the holy Christmas birth, Be this, good friends, our carol still Be peace on earth, be peace on earth, To men of gentle will. 1848-9. William Makepeace Thackeray 64 72 80 88 SELECTIONS FROM THE LATER POETRY Descriptive and Reflective Verse Interpretation of Nature Portraits of People Life's Philosophy |