golden rules in rhyme.
57
Be frank and pure, and brave and true,—
True to thyself and Heaven;
And be thy friends, the gifted few;
And be thy foes forgiven.
True to thyself and Heaven;
And be thy friends, the gifted few;
And be thy foes forgiven.
And hold thyself so dear, so high,
That evil come not near thee,
That meanness dare not meet thine eye,
And Falsehood fly and fear thee!
That evil come not near thee,
That meanness dare not meet thine eye,
And Falsehood fly and fear thee!
Shrink not to aim the shafts of wit,
At all that's mean or narrow;
But oh, before you bend the bow,
Be sure it holds the arrow!
At all that's mean or narrow;
But oh, before you bend the bow,
Be sure it holds the arrow!
Command your temper, guard your tongue,
Lest they have sway undue;
For deeds, not words, the bell be rung,
Which fame may ring for you!
Lest they have sway undue;
For deeds, not words, the bell be rung,
Which fame may ring for you!
And so, if from my careless rhyme,
You cull the rose of Reason,
I have not wasted all my time,
But said "a word in season."
You cull the rose of Reason,
I have not wasted all my time,
But said "a word in season."
