 | Songs of Religion and Life |  |
236
The Wisdom of Life.
Would you lead a happy life,
Free from melancholy,
Gnawing care and thorny strife,
And plunges of blind folly—
I will tell you how to live
Heartily and truly,
With sweet honey in your hive,
Like a bee in July.
Free from melancholy,
Gnawing care and thorny strife,
And plunges of blind folly—
I will tell you how to live
Heartily and truly,
With sweet honey in your hive,
Like a bee in July.
Like the bee, be out and work
When the sun is shining,
Never in a corner lurk,
Whimpering and whining.
If you scour the fields, you'll find
Thyme, or mint, or clover;
Something to a willing mind
God will still discover.
When the sun is shining,
Never in a corner lurk,
Whimpering and whining.
237
Thyme, or mint, or clover;
Something to a willing mind
God will still discover.
When the sky is grim and grey,
Though the clouds rain fountains,
March; and molehills on your way
Don't mistake for mountains.
If a ghost beside you stand,
Make no fearful comment;
But face the shadow boldly, and
'Tis vanished in a moment!
Though the clouds rain fountains,
March; and molehills on your way
Don't mistake for mountains.
If a ghost beside you stand,
Make no fearful comment;
But face the shadow boldly, and
'Tis vanished in a moment!
What the folks of you may say
Never mind a rattle,
Spin your quiet yarn, while they
Waste their wind in battle.
Lies that float on windy wings
With windy haste will perish;
But the seed of truthful things
Time's fruitful womb will cherish.
Never mind a rattle,
Spin your quiet yarn, while they
Waste their wind in battle.
238
With windy haste will perish;
But the seed of truthful things
Time's fruitful womb will cherish.
Hold your head erect, but not
Haughtily, to all men;
When your fair fame they would blot,
Never answer small men.
When they spring with hissing harm,
Madder still and madder,
Shake them gently from your arm,
As Paul let drop the adder.
Haughtily, to all men;
When your fair fame they would blot,
Never answer small men.
When they spring with hissing harm,
Madder still and madder,
Shake them gently from your arm,
As Paul let drop the adder.
Storms will have their gusty way,
Fools will have their ranting;
But sense outrides the roughest day,
And sees the end of canting.
Wrap your mantle round your breast,
And when the storm is loudest,
Lightly fling your brightest jest
And let your gait be proudest.
Fools will have their ranting;
But sense outrides the roughest day,
And sees the end of canting.
239
And when the storm is loudest,
Lightly fling your brightest jest
And let your gait be proudest.
Wouldst thou Truth's fair semblance see,
All viewless to the rabble,
Keep thy soul unbribed and free
From Whig and Tory squabble;
From fretful faction's hoarse debate,
From foiled ambition's canker,
From seas of never-ending prate,
And floods of sacred rancour.
All viewless to the rabble,
Keep thy soul unbribed and free
From Whig and Tory squabble;
From fretful faction's hoarse debate,
From foiled ambition's canker,
From seas of never-ending prate,
And floods of sacred rancour.
Let your eye range freely round
To spell the scroll of Nature;
But ever with an awe profound
Revere the great Creator.
Let no phrase thy wit delude,
Let no dogma fetter;
But though to know all things is good,
To love all things is better.
To spell the scroll of Nature;
But ever with an awe profound
Revere the great Creator.
240
Let no dogma fetter;
But though to know all things is good,
To love all things is better.
Wear your heart not on your sleeve;
But on just occasion
Let men know what you believe
With breezy ventilation;
Prove the good, and make them thine,
With warm embrace and ample;
But never cast your pearls to swine,
Who turn and rend and trample.
But on just occasion
Let men know what you believe
With breezy ventilation;
Prove the good, and make them thine,
With warm embrace and ample;
But never cast your pearls to swine,
Who turn and rend and trample.
Make a penny when you can,
'Tis useful as a tool is,
But who says, Money makes the man,
A meagre-witted fool is.
Rich is he whose genial breast,
With liberal salutation,
Hath welcomed all that's bright and best
Throughout the wide creation.
'Tis useful as a tool is,
But who says, Money makes the man,
A meagre-witted fool is.
241
With liberal salutation,
Hath welcomed all that's bright and best
Throughout the wide creation.
When you've got a willing steed,
Use it meek and mildly;
Soon the best will slack his speed
If you spur him wildly.
Race not with a ramping might,
Like puffy Boreas blowing;
But like the glorious lord of light,
Be gentle in thy going.
Use it meek and mildly;
Soon the best will slack his speed
If you spur him wildly.
Race not with a ramping might,
Like puffy Boreas blowing;
But like the glorious lord of light,
Be gentle in thy going.
Now my Muse must clip her wing—
Rhyme's a fluent preacher;
But how to do the proper thing
Life's the only teacher.
Only he may know who tries;
And if you now determine
So to do as I advise,
You'll never rue the sermon.
Rhyme's a fluent preacher;
But how to do the proper thing
Life's the only teacher.
242
And if you now determine
So to do as I advise,
You'll never rue the sermon.
| Songs of Religion and Life | |