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Stones from The Quarry

or, Moods of Mind. By Henry Browne [i.e. Henry Ellison]
Ellison, Henry

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THE GOLDEN MEAN.

He wise is who being rich can be as poor
Not poor in spirit, but, with wise desires,
No more than genial Nature asks requires;
Who for her unbought grace would love and woo her,
Not outward tricks and toys, and gilded lure.
She kindles, then, pure virgin! holy fires;
And temperate loves, not hasty flames inspires;
And bears true issue, pleasures that endure.
Therefore he waves aside the harlotry,
The Sirens would enchain him; stops his ears:
No Lotus-eater he! Humanity
Doth call him; and, so long as toils and tears
Are human, on base down he will not lie,
Nor bask in Fortune's smiles or Pleasure's leers.
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