XVI.

The Worldly Hope men set their Hearts upon Turns Ashes--or it prospers; and anon, Like Snow upon the Desert's dusty Face, Lighting a little hour or two--is gone.

The inspiration for this quatrain is to be found in C. 266.

O heart! Suppose all this world's affairs were within your power, And the whole world from end to end as you desire it, And then, like snow in the desert, upon its surface Resting for two or three days, understand yourself to be gone!

_Ref._: C. 266, L. 420, B. 416, P. 144, B. ii. 260, T. 168.--V 443.