 | Three Hundred Sonnets |  |
107
FOES.
A man's own household: Wisdom spake the word,The just but bitter paradox of truth;
Who hath not known and felt and seen and heard
How real it was to him in age or youth?
There are no foes so keen as kith and kin:
Grant that thou hast, however lightly, err'd,
These blazon out the fault and call it sin,
Hunting thee down with censure; or if fame
Worthy and just be meted to thy lot,
And men of every nation bless thy name,
That kith and kin neglect thee, marvel not;
Their envious hopes would make thy glory shame:
Yea, let a man for loves and friendships roam;
He finds, or wisely leaves, his foes at home.
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