University of Virginia Library

[Where is the wise and just man? where]

Where is the wise and just man? where
That earthly maiden, heavenly fair?
Life slips and passes: where are these?
Friend?—Loved One?—I am ill at ease.
Shall I give up my hope? declare
Unmeaning promises they were
That fed my youth, fine dreams of night,
And lofty thoughts of clear daylight?
I saw. I search and cannot find.
“Come, ere too late!”—The lonely wind
Brings echo, like the voice of Fate,
With mutter'd dull reply “Too late!”

[Fair houses in my walks I see]

Fair houses in my walks I see:
“How wise, pure, gentle, must they be,
The unknown dwellers there!”
But when some well-known house I pass,
Too oft I only say “alas!”
Tho' it be full as fair.

[They are my friends]

They are my friends
Who are most mine,
And I most theirs,
When common cares
Give room to thoughts poetic and divine,
And in a psalm of love all nature blends.

[We only touch by surfaces]

We only touch by surfaces;
But Spirit is the core of these.

[One with one, not overheard]

One with one, not overheard,
This is converse: God being third.

Fidelity.

Can I be friends with that so alter'd you,
And to your former friendly self keep true?

[I am not shock'd by failings in my friend]

I am not shock'd by failings in my friend,
For human life's a zigzag to the end.
But if he to a lower plane descend,
Contented there,—alas, my former friend!

[For thinking, one; for converse, two, no more]

For thinking, one; for converse, two, no more;
Three for an argument; for walking, four;
For social pleasure, six; for fun, a score.

[It is not you, my Foe, I fear]

It is not you, my Foe, I fear,
But you alas! my Friend so dear.

[From the little that's shown]

From the little that's shown
To complete the unknown,
Is a folly we hourly repeat;
And for once, I would say,
That men lead us astray,
Ourselves we a thousand times cheat.

[In argument it oft betides]

In argument it oft betides
The speakers might as well change sides,
For aught they know or think or feel,
Omitting controversial zeal.

[Is it true]

Is it true
That any two,
Whatever they seem, whatever they do,
Are strangers still?
I like it ill,
Yet half believe against my will.

[Solitude is very sad]

Solitude is very sad,
Too much company twice as bad.

[Little care I for the faults of the small]

Little care I for the faults of the small,
His own mere undoing:
Great Man, thy greatness belongs to us all,
Thy faults are our ruin.

[Limited each is: but—O dear!]

Limited each is: but—O dear!
To find one's Great Men insincere;
No disappointment so severe.

[O great one! O mighty one!—]

O great one! O mighty one!—
Yet you fall short.
All the better!—Man's greater.
You are but one sort.

[Unless you are growing wise and good]

Unless you are growing wise and good,
I can't respect you for growing old;
'Tis a path you fain would avoid if you could,
And it means growing ugly, suspicious, and cold.

[His way of life was zig-zag still]

His way of life was zig-zag still;
Yet ever creeping up the hill.

[Well for the man whom sickness makes more tender]

Well for the man whom sickness makes more tender,
Who doth his prideful cravings then surrender,
Owning the boon of every little pleasure,
And love (too oft misprized) a heavenly treasure,
Finding at last a subtle strength in weakness,
A medicine for the soul in body-sickness.

[The spiteful dart]

The spiteful dart
Flies below or above me;
The wound in my heart
Is from you, who love me.

[The weak have no opinions; and the strong]

The weak have no opinions; and the strong,
Full of self-will, go very boldly wrong.

[By making our trials and sorrows known]

By making our trials and sorrows known,
We help fellow-mortals to bear their own.

[Some win our gratitude merely by living]

Some win our gratitude merely by living;
Others can't get it by all their giving.

[A hope that we are taught to prize]

A hope that we are taught to prize
Is, meeting Kindred in the skies;
But many would as soon, I doubt,
Meet their old ulcer, cough, or gout.

[“Old Friend?”—For many years, I wis]

“Old Friend?”—For many years, I wis,
I've known how great a bore he is.

[While friends we were, the hot debates]

While friends we were, the hot debates
That rose 'twixt you and me!
Now we are mere associates,
And never disagree.

[If he draw you aside from your proper end]

If he draw you aside from your proper end,
No enemy like a bosom friend.

[Dear Friend, so much admired, so oft desired]

Dear Friend, so much admired, so oft desired,
'Tis true that now I wish to be away.
You are not tiresome, no! but I am tired.
Allow to servant brain and nerves full play
In their electric function, yea and nay;
Faith and affection do not shift their ground,
Howe'er the vital currents ebb and flow;
To feel most free because most firmly bound
Is Friendship's privilege: so now I go
To rest awhile the mystic nerves and brain,
To walk apart,—and long for you again.

[I'll make it part of my life's plan]

I'll make it part of my life's plan
To quarrel with no honest man;
And for no earthly bribe pretend
To take the other sort for friend.