FALSE world, good night! since thou hast brought br That hour upon my morn of age; br Henceforth I quit thee from my thought, br My part is ended on thy stage. br br Yes, threaten, do. Alas! I fear br As little as I hope from thee: br I know thou canst not show nor bear br More hatred than thou hast to me. br br My tender, first, and simple years br Thou didst abuse and then betray; br Since stir'd'st up jealousies and fears, br When all the causes were away. br br Then in a soil hast planted me br Where breathe the basest of thy fools; br Where envious arts professed be, br And pride and ignorance the schools; br br Where nothing is examined, weigh'd, br But as 'tis rumour'd, so believed; br Where every freedom is betray'd, br And every goodness tax'd or grieved. br br But what we're born for, we must bear: br Our frail condition it is such br That what to all may happen here, br If 't chance to me, I must not grutch. br br Else I my state should much mistake br To harbour a divided thought br From all my kind-that, for my sake, br There should a miracle be wrought. br br No, I do know that I was born br To age, misfortune, sickness, grief: br But I will bear these with that scorn br As shall not need thy false relief. br br Nor for my peace will I go far, br As wanderers do, that still do roam; br But make my strengths, such as they are, br Here in my bosom, and at home.