Again rare riches thou hast gently shown,
And I drink sweetness from thy royal heart.
Again I rise and claim the nobler part,
And bless the friendship in thee made known.
Full forty years, in public or alone,
I’ve studied men, high heaven’s sovereign art
And thee—thy virtue’s smiles, and whence they start,
Adoring Truth’s sweet balm, which is thine own.
Let turmoils come and go; let fools foment
Disaster dire, till many shall lament
Their natal hour, their present lot and all.
Thy friendship true, which grows from bud to bloom
And fruit eternal, dissipates all gloom—
Again I’ve entered love’s pure banquet hall.