The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill | ||
SONNET TO SINCERITY.
Pure emanation of the honest soul,
Dear to my heart, manly Sincerity!
Dissimulation shrinks—a coward foul—
Before thy noble art-detesting eye.
Dear to my heart, manly Sincerity!
Dissimulation shrinks—a coward foul—
Before thy noble art-detesting eye.
Thou scorn'st the wretch who acts a double part,
Obsequious, servile, flatt'ring to betray,
With smiling face that veils a ranc'rous heart,
Like sunny morning of tempestuous day.
Obsequious, servile, flatt'ring to betray,
With smiling face that veils a ranc'rous heart,
Like sunny morning of tempestuous day.
Thou spurn'st the sophist, with his guilty lore,
Whom int'rest prompts to weave the specious snare;
In independence rich, thou own'st a store
Of conscious worth, which changelings never share.
Whom int'rest prompts to weave the specious snare;
In independence rich, thou own'st a store
Of conscious worth, which changelings never share.
Then come, bright virtue, with thy dauntless brow,
And crush deceit, vile monster, reptile low.
And crush deceit, vile monster, reptile low.
The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill | ||