I.
By the waste of toil and treasure
For so slender gains,--
By the poor amount of pleasure
Bought of many pains,--
By the hopes and fears unceasing
Both in turn put out,--
By the worries still increasing
With their rabble rout,--
Human Life, thou robe of Nessus!
We are clad in cares;
And the very joys that bless us
Are but snakes and snares;
And the troubles and the trials,
Somehow wisely sent,
Seem to us pernicious vials
Pour'd in punishment.

II.
By each vast anticipation
And its meagre fact,--
By so slight appreciation
Of each generous act,--
By the coldness and the meaneness
In too many found,--
By the hard unkindly keenness
Watching all around,--
Human Life, thou face of Gorgon!
We are harden'd up,
And each sympathetic organ
Freezes at thy cup,
And affection's purest feeling
Curdles into gall,
And Religion's touch of healing
Does not sweeten all.

III.
By the Past,-- a word sadness
Wet with silly tears;
By the Present,-- promised gladness
Cheating us for years;
By the Future,-- dread enigma,
Who shall guess its truth?
By Fame's breath, and Slander's stigma
Vexing Age and Youth;--
Human Life, O bitter sweetness,
Chequer'd white and black,--
Yet dost thou achieve the meetness
Which thy children lack;
Whatsoe'er the wind or weather,
Joy it is to tell
All things work for good together
And shall yet be well?

IV.
By the thousand tints of Beauty
Dropt on every side,--
By the magic thought of Duty
Whatsoe'er betide,--
By the mercies yet about us
Little understood,
By all else within, without us,
Ministering good,--
Human Life! O wondrous story!
Full of light and shade,
Soon shalt thou be lit with glory
That can never fade;
Soon Affection and Ambition
Shall be fully blown,
And Our Life achieve its mission
On a Royal Throne!