The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe | ||
FLINT AND STEEL.
YRIARTE.
The
Flint and Steel—the story goes—
Old friends by natural relation,
Fell out, one day, and, like two foes,
Indulged in bitter altercation.
Old friends by natural relation,
Fell out, one day, and, like two foes,
Indulged in bitter altercation.
“I'm weary,” said the angry Flint,
“Of being beat; 't is past concealing;
Your conduct (witness many a dint
Upon my sides!) is most unfeeling.
“Of being beat; 't is past concealing;
Your conduct (witness many a dint
Upon my sides!) is most unfeeling.
“And what reward have I to show?
What sort of payment do you render,
To one who bears each hateful blow
That you may blaze in transient splendor?”
What sort of payment do you render,
To one who bears each hateful blow
That you may blaze in transient splendor?”
“You seem to think yourself abused,”
The Steel replied with proper spirit;
“But, say, unless with me you 're used,
What praise of service do you merit?
The Steel replied with proper spirit;
“But, say, unless with me you 're used,
What praise of service do you merit?
“Your worth, as any one may see
(For all your feeling of defiance),
Is simply nought, unless with me
You keep your natural alliance.”
(For all your feeling of defiance),
Is simply nought, unless with me
You keep your natural alliance.”
“True!” said the Flint; “but there 's no call,
Whate'er my worth, for you to flout it;
My value, sir, may be but small;
But think what yours would be without it!”
Whate'er my worth, for you to flout it;
My value, sir, may be but small;
But think what yours would be without it!”
MORAL.
The writer who depends alone
On genius, hoping to be able
To cope with scholars fully grown,
May profit by this simple fable.
On genius, hoping to be able
To cope with scholars fully grown,
May profit by this simple fable.
As from the Steel no fire comes forth,
Until it feels the Flint's abrasion;
So genius is of little worth
Without the aid of cultivation.
Until it feels the Flint's abrasion;
So genius is of little worth
Without the aid of cultivation.
The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe | ||