The White Island, or Place of the Blest
In this world, the isle of dreams,
While we sit by sorrow’s streams,
Tears and terrors are our themes
Reciting:
But when once from hence we fly,
More and more approaching nigh
Unto young eternity,
Uniting:
In that whiter island, where
Things are evermore sincere;
Candor here and luster there
Delighting:
There no monstrous fancies shall
Out of hell an horror call,
To create, or cause at all,
Affrighting.
There, in calm and cooling sleep
We our eyes shall never steep,
But eternal watch shall keep,
Attending
Pleasures, such as shall pursue
Me immortalized, and you;
And fresh joys, as never too
Have ending.
