The Christian Scholar | ||
104
XVIII. ON CONSCIENCE.
“For know, O Socrates, as time draws near,
When man by nature must expect to die,
There comes into his soul an anxious fear
Unknown before, which will not be put by;
And tales of Hades which were once a jest
With terrible forebodings haunt his breast.
When man by nature must expect to die,
There comes into his soul an anxious fear
Unknown before, which will not be put by;
And tales of Hades which were once a jest
With terrible forebodings haunt his breast.
“Lest it be true that wrongful deeds done here
Must there encounter after-recompence;
And haply to that state as he draws near,
Or old age deadens the external sense,
He sees more clearly somewhat of the dead;—
His soul, howe'er it be, is full of dread.
Must there encounter after-recompence;
And haply to that state as he draws near,
Or old age deadens the external sense,
He sees more clearly somewhat of the dead;—
His soul, howe'er it be, is full of dread.
“Anxious he thinks, if any he hath harm'd;
Should many guilty deeds his past life fill,
Like children, oft from sleep he starts alarm'd,
In expectation lives of coming ill:
But if from evil free his course hath been,
Hope to him comes, Eld's pleasing nurse serene,
Should many guilty deeds his past life fill,
Like children, oft from sleep he starts alarm'd,
In expectation lives of coming ill:
But if from evil free his course hath been,
Hope to him comes, Eld's pleasing nurse serene,
105
“As Pindar sings full well, when man his days
With justice and with holiness hath past,
Hope, cheerful friend, Hope, that as steersman sways
Man's wave-toss'd heart, Hope, solace sweet, at last
Comes, best of help-mates, with old age to dwell :
O Socrates, 'tis said how wondrous well!”
With justice and with holiness hath past,
Hope, cheerful friend, Hope, that as steersman sways
Man's wave-toss'd heart, Hope, solace sweet, at last
Comes, best of help-mates, with old age to dwell :
O Socrates, 'tis said how wondrous well!”
The Christian Scholar | ||