Page:The Century Of Life.pdf/29

 ADVICE TO A KING

He fosters, King, the calf who milks the cow, And thou who takest of the wide earth tax, Foster the people; with laborious brow And sleepless vigil strive till nought it lacks. Then shall the earth become thy faery tree Of plenty, pleasure, fame, Felicity.

POLICY

Often she lies, wears sometimes brow of truth, Kind sometimes, sometimes ravening-merciless ; Now open-handed, full of bounty and grace, And now a harpy; now sweet honey and ruth Flows from her tongue, now menacc harsh or stern; This moment with a bottomless desire She gathers millions in, the next will tire,— Endless expense takes prodigally its turn. Thus like a harlot changes momently In princes the chameleon Policy.

THE USES OF HIGH STANDING

Men highly placed by six good gifts are high

The first is noble liberality;

The second, power that swift obedience brings; Service to holy men and holy things

Comes next; then fame; protection then of friends; Pleasure in pleasant things the great list ends. Whose rising with these six is unallied,

What seeks he by a mighty prince’s side?