Poems of James Clarence Mangan (Many hitherto uncollected): Centenary edition: Edited, with preface and notes by D. J. O'Donoghue: Introduction by John Mitchel |
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SAYINGS OF DJELIM. |
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 | Poems of James Clarence Mangan |  |
SAYINGS OF DJELIM.
I, too, was reared in Djelim's house; and thus his precepts run and are:When Folly sells thee Wisdom's crown, 'tis idly gained and dearly bought:
O! foremost man of all his race, born under some diviner star,
Who, early trained, self-reined, self-chained, can practise all that Lokman taught,
The joys and cares of Earth are snares: Heed lest thy soul too late deplore
The power of Sin to wile and win her vision from the Eight and Four.
Lock up thyself within thyself; distrust the Stranger and the Fair;
The fool is blown from whim to whim by every gust of Passion's gales;
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Avert thine eyes from Woman's face when Twilight falls and she unveils.
Be circumspect; be watchmanlike; put pebbles in thy mouth each day;
Pause long ere thou panegyrise; pause doubly long ere thou condemn.
Thy thoughts are Tartars, vagabonds; imprison all thou canst not slay.
Of many million drops of rain perchance but one turns out a gem.
| Poems of James Clarence Mangan | |