 | My Sonnets |  |
[By our own standard do we measure men]
By our own standard do we measure men,Not by their own as we, more justly, ought.
Come, ponder with me, you, in your own thought,
All pure and spotless, sternly judging, when
You deem a fellow mortal errs. Do you ken
The truth of this your guage? How it was wrought
Can tell me? No. Chance formed your standard. Nought
Of difference can there possibly be, then,
In that which others to their deeds apply,
Ay, even to your own. Judge none, for know
Of circumstance is conscience born and nigh,
Your virtues, vices are in others' sight.
Blameless is he who does what he himself holds right.
June 25th, 1843.
| My Sonnets | |