O, that I were where I would be,
Then would I be where I am not;
For read more

O, that I were where I would be,
Then would I be where I am not;
For where I am I would not be,
And where I would be I can not.

I wish they would only take me as I am.

I wish they would only take me as I am.

We cannot wish for that we know not.
[Fr., On ne peut desirer ce qu'on ne connait pas.]

We cannot wish for that we know not.
[Fr., On ne peut desirer ce qu'on ne connait pas.]

What most we wish, with ease we fancy near.

What most we wish, with ease we fancy near.

With all thy sober charms possest,
Whose wishes never learnt to stray.

With all thy sober charms possest,
Whose wishes never learnt to stray.

He calls his wish, it comes; he sends it back,
And says he called another; that arrives,
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He calls his wish, it comes; he sends it back,
And says he called another; that arrives,
Meets the same welcome; yet he still calls on;
Till one calls him, who varies not his call,
But holds him fast, in chains of darkness bound,
Till Nature dies, and judgment sets him free;
A freedom far less welcome than this chain.

What one has wished for in youth, in old age one has in
abundance.
[Ger., Was man in read more

What one has wished for in youth, in old age one has in
abundance.
[Ger., Was man in der Jugend wunscht, hat man im Alter die
Fulle.]

Man wants but little, nor that little long;
How soon must he resign his very dust,
Which read more

Man wants but little, nor that little long;
How soon must he resign his very dust,
Which frugal nature lent him for an hour!

Some nights the sky wept stars that quickly floated and disappeared into the darkness before our wishes could meet them.

Some nights the sky wept stars that quickly floated and disappeared into the darkness before our wishes could meet them.