Page:Lyrics of Lowly Life Dunbar (1896).djvu/73



Must struggle up in all his armor dight!

What though the burden bear him sorely down

And crush to dust the mountain of his pride,

Oh, then, with strong heart let him still abide;

For rugged is the roadway to renown,

Nor may he hope to gain the envied crown

Till he hath thrust the looming rocks aside.

'VE been list'nin' to them lawyers

In the court house up the street,

An' I 've come to the conclusion

That I 'm most completely beat.

Fust one feller riz to argy,

An' he boldly waded in

As he dressed the tremblin' prisoner

In a coat o' deep-dyed sin.

Why, he painted him all over

In a hue o' blackest crime,

An' he smeared his reputation

With the thickest kind o' grime,