 | The Poetry of Real Life |  |
THE TRUE DIGNITY OF MAN.
The highest tribute that a man can haveIs, to be loved—and he who is, though by
His meanest fellow creature, stands more nigh
To God by this alone, than if Kings gave
Him titles manifold, his way to pave
To life's false greatness—little dignity
Can he from titles gain, however high,
Who cannot make himself, amongst the brave
And good, far higher titles than kings can,
Or would, bestow! he who cannot do this,
Must want the highest still—the name of “Man”—
And he who can, thereby far greater is,
Without them, than if dukedoms he could span,
For, by accepting those, he that must miss!
| The Poetry of Real Life | |