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, But if in earnest care you would And more, though free from seeming harm, 5 1Ο 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 May die as dies the natural flower, That every thought and every deed Esteeming sorrow, whose employ LORD HOUGHTON. 30 ODE TO DUTY. STERN Daughter of the Voice of God! Thou, who art victory and law 5 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! 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, But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may. Through no disturbance of my soul, Or strong compunction in me wrought, I feel the weight of chance desires : 35 Me this unchartered freedom tires; My hopes no more must change their name, 40 I long for a repose that ever is the same. 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. 15 To use in any thing a trick or sleight; 20 His words and works and fashion too All of a piece, and all are clear and straight. Who never melts or thaws, At close temptations: when the day is done, His goodness sets not, but in dark can run : The sun to others writeth laws, And is their virtue; Virtue is his sun. 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 All things are bounden to obey, Doth fade at length, and fall away. But virtue sits triumphing still Upon the throne of glorious fame : - 5 ΙΟ 15 20 MODERN REASONING. WHENCE Comes it, L—, that every fool, 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 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, 15 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 25 Who tastes such converse, L-, with thee! 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 of— tongue. In all disputes he bravely wins the day, No wonder-for he hears not what you say. 40 |