The Collected Poems of Lord De Tabley [i.e. J. B. L. Warren] |
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| II. |
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| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
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| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
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THE STOIC'S CREED |
 | The Collected Poems of Lord De Tabley |  |
THE STOIC'S CREED
Hoard not up the yellow dross,
Spurn the deadly discs of gold;
Let the miser turn and toss
Sleepless on his wealth untold.
Spurn the deadly discs of gold;
Let the miser turn and toss
Sleepless on his wealth untold.
432
Life requires a crust of bread,
A bowl of wine, a dish of meat.
Wilt thou toil thyself half dead
To pile a heap thou canst not eat?
A bowl of wine, a dish of meat.
Wilt thou toil thyself half dead
To pile a heap thou canst not eat?
Who would break his rest to guard
What a thief can steal away?
Will thy ducats bring reward
To dim eyes or hair of gray?
What a thief can steal away?
Will thy ducats bring reward
To dim eyes or hair of gray?
Of thy hoard what lust abides,
When to end thy selfish greed
Comes the bony knight who rides
Dark upon his steel-white steed?
When to end thy selfish greed
Comes the bony knight who rides
Dark upon his steel-white steed?
Will thy money-bags avail,
Speak him soft and gain reprieve?
Then thy gold will melt and fail
As Danaid's water thro' the sieve.
Speak him soft and gain reprieve?
Then thy gold will melt and fail
As Danaid's water thro' the sieve.
Will thy bullion beam as bright
To palsied grasp and horny eye,
In the horror of the night,
When Crœsus hears the doom to die?
To palsied grasp and horny eye,
In the horror of the night,
When Crœsus hears the doom to die?
Honest work will bring enough;
Work, and have no further heed.
Life is made of sterling stuff,
Love expands a nobler creed.
Work, and have no further heed.
Life is made of sterling stuff,
Love expands a nobler creed.
Purple fleeces scare repose:
Slumber loves the cabin door:
To sleep exempt from care and foes,—
'Tis the treasure of the poor.
Slumber loves the cabin door:
To sleep exempt from care and foes,—
'Tis the treasure of the poor.
Fate with blameless mind defy;
Rest and Labour, wisely blent,
Bring with happy usury
The increase of a fair content.
Rest and Labour, wisely blent,
Bring with happy usury
The increase of a fair content.
| The Collected Poems of Lord De Tabley | |