There remaineth a rest for the spirit on the shadowy side of life; Ever, from stage to stage, he travelleth wearily forward, And though he pluck flowers by the way, he may not sleep among the flowers. Mind is the perpetual motion; for it is a running stream From an unfathomable source, the depth of the divine Intelligence: Seekest thou rest, O mortal?-seek it no more on earth, For destiny will not cease from dragging thee through the rough wilderness of life; Seekest thou rest, O immortal?-hope not to find it in Heaven, For sloth yieldeth not happiness; the bliss of a spirit is action. Rest dwelleth only on an island in the midst of the ocean of existence, OF HUMILITY. VICE is grown aweary of her gawds, and donneth russet garments, For Pride hath noted how all admire the fairness of Humility, And to clutch the praise he coveteth, is content to be drest in hair-cloth; And wily Lust tempteth the young heart, that is proof against the bravery of harlots, With timid tears and retiring looks of an artless seeming maid; And Slander, snake-like, creepeth in the dust, thinking to escape recrimination. But the world hath gained somewhat from its years, and is quick to pene trate disguises: Neitner in all these is it easily deceived, but rightly divideth the true from the false. Yet there is a meanness of spirit that is fair in the eyes of most men, But what! art thou not a man, deputed chief of the creation? Art thou not a soldier of the right, militant for God and good? Shall virtue and truth be degraded, because thou art too base to uphold them? Humility mainly becometh the converse of man with his Maker, Render unto all men their due, but remember thou also art a man, And cheat not thyself of the reverence which is owing to thy reasonable being. Be courteous, and listen, and learn: but teach and answer if thou canst : Serve thee of thy neighbour's wisdom, but be not enslaved as to a master. Where thou perceivest knowledge, bend the ear of attention and respect; But yield not further to the teaching, than as thy mind is warranted by reasons. Better is an obstinate disputant, that yieldeth inch by inch, Than the shallow traitor to himself, who surrendereth to half an argument. Modesty winneth good report, but scorn cometh close upon servility; Therefore use meekness with discretion, casting not pearls before swine. For a fool will tread upon thy neck, if he seeth thee lying in the dust; And there be companies and seasons where resolute bearing is but duty. If a good man discloseth his secret failings unto the view of the profane, What doeth he but harm unto his brother, confirming him in his sin: There is a concealment that is right, and an open-mouthed humility that erreth; There is a candour near akin to folly, and a meekness looking like shame. Masculine sentiments, vigorously holden, well become a man ; But a weak mind hath a timorous grasp, and mistaketh it for tenderness of conscience. Many are despised for their folly, who put it to the account of their religion, And because men treat them with contempt, they look to their God for glory: But contempt shall still be their reward, who betrayed their Master unto ridicule, Reflecting on Him in themselves, meanness and ignorance and cowardice. A Christian hath a royal spirit, and need not be ashamed but unto One: Among just men walketh he softly, but the world should see him as a champion. His humbleness is far unlike the shame that covereth the profligate and weak, When the sober reproof of virtue hath touched their tingling ears; It is born of love and wisdom, and is worthy of all honour, And the sweet persuasion of its smile changeth contempt into reverence. A man of a haughty spirit is daily adding to his enemies : He standeth as the Arab in the desert, and the hands of all men are against him: A man of a base mind daily subtracteth from his friends, For he holdeth himself so cheaply, that others learn to despise him. Humility bringeth no excuse; she is welcome to God and man: Her countenance is needful unto all, who would prosper in either world; And the mild light of her sweet face is mirrored in the eyes of her cem panions, And straightway stand they accepted, children of penitence and love. As when the blind man is nigh unto a rose, its sweetnes is the herald of its beauty, So when thou savourest humility, be sure thou art nigh unto merit. A gift rejoiceth the covetous, and praise fatteneth the vain, And the pride of man delighteth in the humble bearing of his fellow, bestow. OF PRIDE. DEEP is the sea, and deep is hell, but Pride mineth deeper; It is coiled as a poisonous worm about the foundations of the soul. Making thee vain of thy self-knowledge; proud of thy discoveries of pride. But in viewing the heights above thee, thou shalt be taught thy littleness; And all things hang upon comparison; to the greater, great is small: On all sides is there an infinity: the culprit at the gallows hath his worse, source: Pride is a gloomy bow, arching the infernal firmament, That will lead thee on, if thou wilt hunt it, even to the dwelling of despair. Deep calleth unto deep, and mountain overtoppeth mountain, And still shalt thou fathom to no end the depth and the height of pride; Be aware of the smiling enemy, that openly sheatheth his weapon, Stay not to parley with thy foe, for his tongue is more potent than his arm OF EXPERIENCE. I KNEW that age was enriched with the hard-earned wages of knowledge, And the cause seemed to lie in this, that while they considered around them, And warded off all dangers from without, they forgat their own weakness within. So steer they in self-confidence, until, from the multitude of perils, |