WITHOUT a shade, where beams the orient light?

Where blooms the lovely rose without a thorn?

Is there a day without succeeding night?

Is there a MAN to no MISFORTUNE born?

 

Is there a SULTAN free from cares of state?

Is there a VIZIER free from anxious dread?

Is there a chieftain with success elate,

Whose FORTUNE hangs not on a spider’s thread?

 

Is there a sea unrufled by a storm,

Or rock-fenced shore unbeaten by the main?

Is there a sky no tempests e’er deform,

Or cloud that melts not into falling rain?

 

Ev’n now, the glorious SUN eclipsed I see,

Deep sunk in shadows, lo! his beams decay:

Why then, should prosperous FORTUNE favor me,

Thro’ life’s dim circle with a cloudless ray?

Grant me, just GOD! a calm, unfetter’d mind,

A humble heart—in all, to thee resign’d.