 | [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary |  |
THE LAW OF LIBERTY.
This extent hath freedom's ground,—
In my freedom I am bound
Never any soul to wound.
In my freedom I am bound
Never any soul to wound.
Not my own: it is not mine,
Lord, except to make it thine,
By good works through grace divine.
Lord, except to make it thine,
By good works through grace divine.
Not another's: Thou alone
Keepest judgment for thine own;
Only unto Thee is known
Keepest judgment for thine own;
Only unto Thee is known
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What to pity, what to blame;
How the fierce temptation came:
What is honor, what is shame.
How the fierce temptation came:
What is honor, what is shame.
Right is bound in this—to win
Good till injury begin;
That, and only that, is sin.
Good till injury begin;
That, and only that, is sin.
Selfish good may not befall
Any man, or great or small;
Best for one is best for all.
Any man, or great or small;
Best for one is best for all.
And who vainly doth desire
Good through evil to acquire,
In his bosom taketh fire.
Good through evil to acquire,
In his bosom taketh fire.
Wronging no man, Lord, nor Thee
Vexing, I do pray to be
In my soul, my body, free.
Vexing, I do pray to be
In my soul, my body, free.
Free to freely leave behind
When the better things I find,
Worser things, howe'er enshrined.
When the better things I find,
Worser things, howe'er enshrined.
So that pain may peace enhance,
And through every change and chance,
I upon myself, advance.
And through every change and chance,
I upon myself, advance.
| [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary | |