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ON FOOLS AND FOLLY
Love’s Folly
She with whom all my thoughts dwell, is averse— She loves another. He whom she desires Turns to a fairer face. Another worse For me afflicted is with deeper fires. Fie on my love and me and him and her! Fie most on Love, this madness’ minister!
The Middle Sort
Easily shalt thou the ignorant appease; The wise more easily is satisfied; But one who builds his raw and foolish pride On a little lore not God himself can please.
Obstinacy in Folly
Go, with strong violence thy jewel tear From the fierce alligator’s yawning jaws; Swim the wild surges when they lash the air Billow on billow thundering without pause; Or set an angry serpent in thy hair For garland! Sooner shalt thou gain their ruth Than conquer the fool’s obstinate heart with truth. Page– 163 On the Same
Nay, thou wilt find sweet oil in the sea-sands, Press them but firmly in thy strenuous hands: The desert-born mirage shall slake thy thirst, Or wandering through the earth thou shalt be first To find the horns of hares, who think’st to school With reason the prejudgments of the fool.
Obstinacy in Vice
Yea, wouldst thou task thy muscles then the dread Strength of the mammoth to constrain with thread, Canst thou the diamond’s adamant heart disclose With the sweet edge and sharpness of a rose, With a poor drop of honey wondrously Wilt thou make sweetness of the wide salt sea, Who dream’st with sugared perfect words to gain The unhonest to the ways of noble men.
Folly’s Wisdom
One cloak on ignorance absolutely fits; Justly if worn, some grace is even lent; Silence in sessions of the learned sits On the fool’s brow like a bright ornament. Page– 164 A Little Knowledge
When I was with a little knowledge cursed, Like a mad elephant I stormed about And thought myself all-knowing. But when deep-versed Rich minds some portion of their wealth disbursed My poverty to raise, then for a lout And dunce I knew myself, and the insolence went Out from me like a fever violent.
Pride of Littleness
The dog upon a meatless bone and lank Horrible, stinking, vile, with spittle wet, Feasts and with heaven’s nectar gives it rank. Then though the ambrosial God should by him stand, He is not awed nor feels how base his fate, But keeps his ghastly gettings more in hand. The little nature deems its small things great And virtue scorns and strength and noble state.
Facilis Descensus
In highest heavens the Ganges’ course began; From Shiva’s loftiest brow to the white snows She tumbles, nor on the cold summits can, But headlong seeks the valley and the rose. Thence downward still the heaven-born waters ran. Say not, “Is this that Ganges ? can her place Be now so low?” Rather when man at all From heavenly reason swerves, he sinks from grace Swiftly. A thousand voices downward call, A thousand doors are opened to his fall. Page– 165 The Great Incurable
For all ill things there is a cure; the fire’s Red spleen cool water shall at once appease, And noontide’s urgent rays the sunshade tires, And there are spells for poison, and disease Finds in the leech’s careful drugs its ease. The raging elephant yet feels the goad, And the dull ass and obstinate bullock rule Cudgel and stick and force upon their road. For one sole plague no cure is found — the fool.
Bodies without Mind
Some minds there are to Art and Beauty dead, Music and poetry on whose dull ear Fall barren. Horns grace not their brutish head, Tails too they lack, yet is their beasthood clear. That Heaven ordained not upon grass their feasts, Good fortune is this for the other beasts.
The Human Herd
Whose days to neither charity nor thought Are given, nor holy deeds nor virtues prized, Nor learning, such to cumber earth were brought. How in the human world as men disguised This herd walk grazing, higher things unsought! Page– 166 A Choice
Better were this, to roam in deserts wild, On difficult mountains and by desolate pools, A savage life with wild beasts reconciled, Than Paradise itself mated with fools. Page– 167 |
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