Page:The Golden Violet.pdf/266

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This time of dreaming happiness pass'd by, Another spirit was within my heart; I drank the maddening cup of praise, which grew Henceforth the fountain of my life; I lived Only in others' breath; a word, a look, Were of all influence on my destiny: If praise they spoke, 't was sunlight to my soul; Or censure, it was like the scorpion's sting.

And yet a darker lesson was to learn— The hollowness of each: that praise, which is But base exchange of flattery; that blame, Given by cautious coldness, which still deems 'T is safest to depress; that mockery, Flinging shafts but to show its own keen aim; That carelessness, whose very censure's chance;