Thomas Gray

Hard Unkindness' alter'd eye,
That mocks the tear if forced to flow.

Hard Unkindness' alter'd eye,
That mocks the tear if forced to flow.

Since sorrow never comes too late
And happiness too swiftly flies.

Since sorrow never comes too late
And happiness too swiftly flies.

And shut the gates of mercy on mankind.

And shut the gates of mercy on mankind.

There scatter'd oft the earliest of ye Year
By Hands unseen are showers of Vi'lets found;
The read more

There scatter'd oft the earliest of ye Year
By Hands unseen are showers of Vi'lets found;
The Redbreast loves to build and warble there,
And little Footsteps lightly print the ground.

Thou tamer of the human breast,
Whose iron scourge and tort'ring hour
The bad affright, afflict the read more

Thou tamer of the human breast,
Whose iron scourge and tort'ring hour
The bad affright, afflict the best!