Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1826)/Songs of Experience/The Voice of the Ancient Bard

Plate 54: The Voice of the Ancient Bard

Youth of delight! come hither
And see the opening morn,
Image of Truth new-born.
Doubt is fled, and clouds of reason,
Dark disputes and artful teazing.
Folly is an endless maze;
Tangled roots perplex her ways;
How many have fallen there!
They stumble all night over bones of the dead;
And feel—they know not what but care;
And wish to lead others, when they should be led.

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.