Dramatic chapters, poems and songs By Charles Swain |
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| XXI. |
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SELFISHNESS. |
 | Dramatic chapters, poems and songs |  |
333
SELFISHNESS.
Oh could we but see how the heartstrings entwine
Round the being they love, round whose life they have grown,
What hand could e'er break that affection divine,
Or forget others' feelings in seeking its own?
Too frequent is self but the object we seek,
And careless of others our pleasures select;
And often because the poor flow'ret is weak
We wound the affection we ought to protect!
Round the being they love, round whose life they have grown,
What hand could e'er break that affection divine,
Or forget others' feelings in seeking its own?
Too frequent is self but the object we seek,
And careless of others our pleasures select;
And often because the poor flow'ret is weak
We wound the affection we ought to protect!
Yet unmanly the heart and unworthy the name
That could trifle with feelings thus holy and pure;
But the falser the fires on love's altar that flame
The darker the sorrow its vot'ries endure.
Let our feelings unbiass'd their sentiments speak,
And the world and its sordid inducements reject;
Nor aim at advantage which injures the weak,
Nor wound the affection we ought to protect.
That could trifle with feelings thus holy and pure;
But the falser the fires on love's altar that flame
The darker the sorrow its vot'ries endure.
Let our feelings unbiass'd their sentiments speak,
And the world and its sordid inducements reject;
Nor aim at advantage which injures the weak,
Nor wound the affection we ought to protect.
| Dramatic chapters, poems and songs | |