by Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744)
To Mrs. M. B. On Her Birthday
Language: English
Oh be thou blest with all that Heav'n can send, Long Health, long Youth, long Pleasure, and a Friend: Not with those Toys the female world admire, Riches that vex, and Vanities that tire. With added years if Life bring nothing new, But, like a Sieve, let ev'ry blessing thro', Some joy still lost, as each vain year runs o'er, And all we gain, some sad Reflection more; Is that a Birth-Day? 'tis alas! too clear, 'Tis but the funeral of the former year. Let Joy or Ease, let Affluence or Content, And the gay Conscience of a life well spent, Calm ev'ry thought, inspirit ev'ry grace. Glow in thy heart, and smile upon thy face. Let day improve on day, and year on year, Without a Pain, a Trouble, or a Fear; Till Death unfelt that tender frame destroy, In some soft Dream, or Extasy of joy, Peaceful sleep out the Sabbath of the Tomb, And wake to Raptures in a Life to come.
Authorship:
- by Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744), "To Mrs. M. B. On Her Birthday" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Myron Silberstein (b. 1975), "To Mrs. M. B. On Her Birthday", 2017 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2021-10-10
Line count: 20
Word count: 165