| Alexander Pope (1688–1744). Complete Poetical Works. 1903. | | | | Poems: 1718–27 | | To Mrs. M. B. on Her Birthday |
| | | | Written to Martha Blount in 1723. Lines 5–10 were elsewhere adapted for a versified celebration of his own birthday, and for an epitaph on a suicide! |
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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, | 5 |
| 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 birthday? ’t is alas! too clear, | |
| ’T is but the funeral of the former year. | 10 |
| 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, | 15 |
| 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. | 20 | | |
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