The Voice of the Ancient Bard

Songs of Innocence and of Experience, 1794

Youth of delight! come hitherAnd see the opening morn,Image of Truth new-born.Doubt is fled, and clouds of reason,Dark disputes and artful teazing.Folly is an endless maze;Tangled roots perplex her ways;How many have fallen there!They stumble all night over bones of the dead;And feel—they know not what but care;And wish to lead others, when they should be led.

From Songs of Innocence and of Experience, via the English Wikisource transcription (1826 edition).

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