Poem by Charles Lamb

The New-Born Infant

Whether beneath sweet beds of roses,
As foolish little Ann supposes,
The spirit of a babe reposes
 Before it to the body come;
Or, as philosophy more wise
Thinks, it descendeth from the skies,—
 We know the babe's now in the room

And that is all which is quite clear
Even to philosophy, my dear.
 The God that made us can alone
Reveal from whence a spirit's brought
Into young life, to light, and thought;
 And this the wisest man must own.

We'll now talk of the babe's surprise,
When first he opens his new eyes,
 And first receives delicious food.
Before the age of six or seven,
To mortal children is not given
 Much reason; or I think he would

(And very naturally) wonder
What happy star he was born under,
 That he should be the only care
Of the dear sweet-food-giving lady,
Who fondly calls him her own baby,
 Her darling hope, her infant heir.

1. Lines Addressed from London, to Sara and S.T.C. at Bristol, in the Summer of 1796
2. Nursing
3. David
4. Love, Death, and Reputation
5. Beauty and the Beast

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