But wherefore rebuke not a liar? wherefore do dishonour to thyself? Wherefore let the evil triumph, when the just and the right are on thy side? Such Humility is abject, it lacketh the life of sensibility, And that resignation is but mock, where the burden is not felt: Humility mainly becometh the converse of man with his Maker, But oftentimes it seemeth out of place in the intercourse of man with man: Yea, it is the cringer to his equal, that is chiefly seen bold to his God, While the martyr, whom a world cannot brow-beat, is humble as a child before Him. 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: respect, There look thou for the man, whom none can know but they will honour. 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 com panions, And straightway stand they accepted, children of penitence and love. of its beauty, So when thou savourest humility, be sure thou art nigh unto merit. Humility is queen among the graces, for she giveth Him occasion to 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. Smoothly will it gratulate thy skill, O subtle anatomist of self, And spurn at its very being, while it nestleth the deeper in thy bosom. Pride is a double traitor, and betrayeth itself to entrap thee, Making thee vain of thy self-knowledge; proud of thy discoveries of pride. Fruitlessly thou strainest for humility, by darkly diving into self; Rather look away from innate evil, and gaze upon extraneous good: 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, And the virgin martyr at the stake need not look far for a better. Therefore see thou that thine aim reacheth unto higher than thyself: Beware that the standard of thy soul wave from the loftiest battlement: For pride is a pestilent meteor, flitting on the marshes of corruption, That will lure thee forward to thy death, if thou seek to track it to its 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, But be wiser, fighting against pride in the simple panoply of prayer. Or the cherished garden of thy graces will fade and perish utterly. Of Experience. I knew that age was enriched with the hard-earned wages of knowledge, And I saw that hoary wisdom was bred in the school of disappointment: I noted that the wisest of youth, though provident and cautious of evil, Yet sailed along unsteadily, as lacking some ballast of the mind: 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, rience. I knew that in the morning of life, before its wearisome journey, For Experience hath another lesson, which a man will do well if he learn, By checking the flight of expectation, to cheat disappointment of its pain. Experience teacheth many things, and all men are his scholars: |