Nature

1As a fond mother, when the day is o'er,

2Leads by the hand her little child to bed,

3Half willing, half reluctant to be led,

4And leave his broken playthings on the floor,

5Still gazing at them through the open door,

6Nor wholly reassured and comforted

7By promises of others in their stead,

8Which though more splendid, may not please him more;

9So Nature deals with us, and takes away

10Our playthings one by one, and by the hand

11Leads us to rest so gently, that we go

12Scarce knowing if we wish to go or stay,

13Being too full of sleep to understand

14How far the unknown transcends the what we know.