felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.
happy is he who has been able to learn the causes of things.
they say that Hope is happiness-
 but genuine Love must prize the past;
and Mem'ry wales the thoughts that bless:
 they rose the first-they set the last.
and all that mem'ry loves the most
 was once our only hope to be:
and all that hope adored and lost
 hath melted into memory.
Alas! it is delusion all-
 the future cheats us from afar:
nor can we be what we recall,
 nor dare we think on what we are.
