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ON WISDOM
Poets and Princes
Unhonoured in a State when poets dwell Whose fames range wider than its strong-winged birds, Whose utterance is for grace adorable Of chosen speech and art of noble words, Whose wisdom hundreds come to hear and tell; The world that nation’s chief for dullness blames, For poets without wealth are rich and kings: When values low depreciate costly things, ‘Tis the appraiser’s shame and not the gem’s.
True Wealth
Knowledge is truest wealth, not this which dies, — It cherishes a strange deep peace within Unutterably, nor the robber’s eyes Ever shall find it out; to give it is gain, It then grows most when parted with, and poured With sleepless hand fills gloriously its lord. Worlds perish may, Knowledge survives their fall; This wise men cherish; 0 Kings, your pride recall, You have but wealth, they inner royalty Of lordliest wisdom. Who with these shall vie ?
The Man of Knowledge
Scorn not the man of knowledge to whose eyes The secrets of the world have been revealed! Thou canst not hold his spirit from the skies By fortune light nor all that earth can yield. The furious tusker with new dark rut stained Were sooner by a lotus-thread detained. Page– 168 Fate and Wisdom
What can the extreme wrath of hostile Fate? The swan that floats in the cool lotus-wood She from his pleasant mansion can exclude. His fame remains, in food adulterate1 Who could the better choose, the worse discern. Fate cannot touch glory that mind can earn.
The Real Ornament
It is not armlets that adorn a man, Nor necklaces all crammed with moonbright pearls, Nor baths, nor ointments, nor arranged curls. Tis art of excellent speech that only can Adorn him: jewels perish, garlands fade; This only abides and glitters undecayed.
The Praises of Knowledge
Knowledge is nobler beauty in a man Than features: ‘tis his hidden hoard of price; This the long roll of Masters first began; Pleasure it brings, just fame and constant bliss, And is a helping friend in foreign lands, And is a very god with puissant hands. Knowledge, not wealth in great men is adored, Nor better than a beast the mind unstored.
¹ The swan was supposed to have the power of separating milk from water when the two were mixed. Page– 169 Comparisons
Men cherish burning anger in their hearts, Yet look without to find if they have foes. Who sweet forbearance has, requires no arts Of speech; persuading silently he goes. Why fear the snake when in thy kindness bask Men evil, or a fire while kinsmen jar Burning thy house! From heaven no medicines ask To heal a troubled mind, where true friends are. Nor seek for ornaments, noble modest shame Being with thee, nor for wealth when wisdom’s by. Who needs a kingdom when his mind can claim A golden realm in sweetest poetry?
Worldly Wisdom
Have mercy for all men, for thy own race Have kindness, for the cunning cunning have, Affection for the good, and politic ways For princes: for thy foes a spirit brave, Patience for elders, candour for the wise: Have skilful ways to steal out women’s hearts. Who shine here, masters in these social arts, In them the human scheme deep-rooted lies. Page– 170 Good Company
Company of good men is a very soil Of plenty, yielding all high things to man. The dull weight of stupidity it can Lift from the mind and cleanse of falsehood vile, Sprinkling truth’s fragrance sweet upon the speech; And it can point out greatness’ rising path, And drive out sinful lust and drive out wrath, And a calm gladness to the senses teach; Glory that to the very stars would climb, Can give thee, conquering thy heart and time.
TheConquests of Sovereign Poetry
Who are the conquerors ? Not mere lords of land, But kihigly poets, whose high victories Are perfect works; men’s hearts at their command Are wholly; at their will the passions rise. Glory their body is, which Death’s pale fear Afflicts not, nor abhorred Age comes near.
Rarites
Whatever most the soul on earth desires, Are rarities, as, a virtuous son; a wife Who wholly loves; Fortune that never tires; A friend whose sweet affection waters life; A master pleased; servants that ne’er deceive; A charming form; a mind no sorrows grieve; A mouth in wisdom proved that makes not strife. These to his favourites being pleased allows Hari, of whom the world grows amorous. Page– 171 The Universal Religion
All varying Scriptures that the earth divide, Have yet one common rule that need o’erride Dogma nor rite, nor any creed offend; All to their heavens by one sole path intend. Tis this: — Abstain from slaughter; others’ wealth To covet cease, and in thy speech no stealth Of falsehood harbour; give in season due According to thy power; from ribald view Or word keep far of woman, wife or maid; Be mild obedience to thy elders paid; Dam longing like a river; each act beneath Show mercy and kindness to all things that breathe.
Great and Meaner Spirits
Some from high action through base fear refrain; The path is difficult, the way not plain. Others more noble to begin, are stayed By a few failures. Great spirits undismayed Abandon never what once to do they swore. Baffled and beaten back, they spring once more, Buffeted and borne down, rise up again, And, full of wounds, come on like iron men. Page– 172 The Narrow Way
Kind to be, yet immutably be just; To find all baser act too hard to do, — Yea, though not doing shatter our life to dust;— Contempt that will not to the evil sue; Not to the friend that’s poor our need to state; Baffled by fortune still erect to stand; Being small to tread in footprints of the great; Who for weak men such rugged path has planned, Harder to tread than edge of this sharp brand ? Page– 173 |
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