Page:The Century Of Life.pdf/31

 On the Wicked

EVIL NATURE

A heart unpitying, brawling vain and rude, An eye to others” wives and wealth inclined, Impatience of true friends and of the good,— These things are self-born in the evil mind.

THE HUMAN COBRA

Avoid the evil man with learning crowned. Lo, the dread cobra, all his hood a gem Of glory, yet he crawls upon the ground. Fear’st thou him less for that bright diadem?

VIRTUE AND SLANDER

A spiritless dull block call modesty; Love of long fasts and holy vows must be Mere shows, yon pure heart but a Pharisee, The world-renouncing sage a fool; the high World-conquering hero ’s taxed with cruelty. This sweet word’s baseness, that great orator A windbag, and the great spirit furious pride, And calm patience an impotent weakness poor. Thus the base-natured all high things deride. Judged by the slanderous tongue, the uncandid eyes, What brightest virtue turns not blackest vice?