 | Terrible tractoration, and other poems |  |
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THE EVILS OF A MISCHIEVOUS TONGUE.
Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.—
Eccl. Apoc. xxviii. 8.
Tho' millions, the sword of the warrior has slaughter'd,
While fame has the homicide's eulogy rung:
Yet many more millions on millions are martyr'd;
Cut off by that cowardly weapon, the tongue.
While fame has the homicide's eulogy rung:
Yet many more millions on millions are martyr'd;
Cut off by that cowardly weapon, the tongue.
One sword may be match'd by another as keen,
In battle the bold man a bolder may meet,
But the shaft of the slanderer, flying unseen
From the quiver of malice, brings ruin complete.
In battle the bold man a bolder may meet,
But the shaft of the slanderer, flying unseen
From the quiver of malice, brings ruin complete.
An insolent tongue, by a taunt or a gibe,
Enkindles heart-burnings and bloody affrays;
A treacherous tongue, when impell'd by a bribe,
The guiltless condemns, or a nation betrays.
Enkindles heart-burnings and bloody affrays;
A treacherous tongue, when impell'd by a bribe,
The guiltless condemns, or a nation betrays.
A smooth subtle tongue vile seducers employ
The fair sex to lure to libidinous thrall;
A slip of the tongue may its owner destroy,
And the tongue of the serpent occasion'd the fall.
The fair sex to lure to libidinous thrall;
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And the tongue of the serpent occasion'd the fall.
Then be it impress'd on Columbian youth,
That the tongue is an engine of terrible force;
Not govern'd by reason, not guided by truth,
A plague, which may desolate worlds in its course.
That the tongue is an engine of terrible force;
Not govern'd by reason, not guided by truth,
A plague, which may desolate worlds in its course.
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