201 THE WORTH OF HOURS. BELIEVE not that your inner eye For every man's weak self, alas! Makes him to see them, while they pass, And more, though free from seeming harm, 5 ΙΟ Or slow retire from pleasure's charm,- 15 If then a painful sense comes on Of something from your being's chain Upon your heart this truth may rise,—- 20 Suffices man's just destinies : So should we live, that every hour 25 That every thought and every deed LORD HOUGHTON. 30 ODE TO DUTY. STERN Daughter of the Voice of God! When empty terrors overawe; From vain temptations dost set free; And calm'st the weary strife of frail humanity! There are who ask not if thine eye Be on them; who, in love and truth, Upon the genial sense of youth: Glad hearts! without reproach or blot; Long may the kindly impulse last! 5 IO 15 But thou, if they should totter, teach them to stand fast! Serene will be our days and bright, And happy will our nature be, When love is an unerring light, And joy its own security. And they a blissful course may hold Live in the spirit of this creed ; 20 Yet find that other strength, according to their need. I, loving freedom, and untried; No sport of every random gust, Yet being to myself a guide, Too blindly have reposed my trust: The task, in smoother walks to stray; 25 330 But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may. Through no disturbance of my soul, I feel the weight of chance desires : 35 My hopes no more must change their name, 40 WORDSWORTH (abridged). CONSTANCY. THE STEDFAST LIFE. WHO is the honest man? He that doth still, and strongly good pursue; Whose honesty is not So loose or easy, that a ruffling wind Can blow away, or glittering look it blind: Who rides his sure and even trot, 5 While the world now rides by, now lags behind. 10 Who, when great trials come, Nor seek's, nor shuns them; but doth calmly stay, Till he the thing and the example weigh: All being brought into a sum, What place or person calls for, he doth pay. To use in any thing a trick or sleight; 15 20 His words and works and fashion too At close temptations: when the day is done, GEORGE HERBERT. 25 THE STURDY ROCK. THE sturdy rock for all his strength With little drops of drizzling rain : The stately stag, that seems so stout, Is caught at length in fowler's net : Yea, man himself, unto whose will Doth fade at length, and fall away. There is no thing but time doth waste; But virtue sits triumphing still Upon the throne of glorious fame : 5 ΙΟ 15 20 MODERN REASONING. WHENCE Comes it, L-, that every fool, In reason's spite, in spite of ridicule, Fondly his own wild whims for truth maintains, 5 'Tis strange from folly this conceit should rise, That want of sense should make us think we're wise: Yet so it is. The most egregious elf Thinks none so wise or witty as himself. Who nothing knows, will all things comprehend; And who can least confute, will most contend. ΙΟ 15 I love the man, I love him from my soul, Whom neither weakness blinds, nor whims control; With learning blest, with solid reason fraught, Who slowly thinks, and ponders every thought: Yet conscious to himself how apt to err, Suggests his notions with a modest fear; Hears every reason, every passion hides, Debates with calmness, and with care decides; 20 More pleased to learn, than eager to confute, Not victory, but truth his sole pursuit. But these are very rare. How happy he Who tastes such converse, L-, with thee! 25 Whilst hand in hand o'er learning's Alps you climb; How far from this the furious noisy crew, Who, what they once assert, with zeal pursue? Their greater right infer from louder tongues ; And strength of argument from strength of lungs, Instead of sense; who stun your ears with sound, 35 And think they conquer, when they but confound. Taurus, a bellowing champion, storms and swears, And drives his argument through both your ears; And whether truth or falsehood, right or wrong, 'Tis still maintain'd, and proved by dint oftongue. In all disputes he bravely wins the day, No wonder-for he hears not what you say. 40 |