INDIFFERENCE! nymph of calm, unruffled brow,
I hail thee, henceforth, as a welcome guest;
Thy easy chain of flow'rets round me throw,
And fix thy careless empire in my breast.

What! if unfelt by thee, transporting bliss,
Unknown the raptures of love's thrilling smart;
Unfelt the eloquent, the tender kiss:
Unknown, the melting movements of the heart.

And ah! unfelt the chastening rod of pain;
Unfelt the thorns in love's seducing snare,
Unfelt the galling of a hopeless chain,
Unknown the killing anguish of despair.

Ah, happy nymph! who would not be like thee,
Insensible to Pleasure's dear extreme?
To be, too, from excess of anguish free,
And glide thro' life on an unruffled stream?