Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/392

 CONSOLATIONS OF SOLITUDE

Next, be upright ; for, though thy hand Great Phoebus' self should stoop to train,

No excellence canst thou command, Dost thou the simple truth disdain, —

Still must thou yield to him whose thought

By plain sincerity is taught.

For to the false, the vain, the weak,

The gods' own lyre yields no sweet voice ;

Not genius' self can make it speak Save with a wild, discordant noise,

Till the musician's soul shall be

Tuned with his harp in harmony.

Next, Science seek, though fools deride, For she to truth must lead the way ;

And never roam from Reason's side, Lest Fancy tempt thy steps astray ;

But let thy wit be well content

To serve as wisdom's ornament.

Let not Prosperity seduce ;

Receive her as a formal guest ; And to Adversity's abuse

Present a spirit undepressed ; And ever live from brawls exempt ; Hold rank and riches in contempt.

Live free, and strive to make men so,

Though driven to dwell with nations rude :

No flowers of poesy can grow On the bleak wastes of servitude.

Learn to disdain all worthless things,

And flatter neither mobs nor kincs.

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