When success exalts thy lot God for thy virtue lays a plot.
I hold him great who, for Love's sake, Can give with generous, earnest will; Yet he who takes for Love's sweet sake I think I hold more generous still.
I bow before the noble mind That freely some great wrong forgives; Yet nobler is the one forgiven, Who bears that burden well and lives.
It may be hard to gain, and still To keep a lowly, steadfast heart; Yet he who loses has to fill A harder and a truer part.
Glorious it is to wear the crown Of a deserved and pure success; He who knows how to fail has won A crown whose luster is not less.
Great may he be who can command And rule with just and tender sway; Yet is Diviner wisdom taught Better by him who can obey.
Blessed are those who die for God, And earn the martyr's crown of light; Yet he who lives for God may be A greater conqueror in his sight.
'Tis phrase absurd to call a villain great: Who wickedly is wise, or madly brave, Is but the more a fool, the more a knave. Who noble ends by noble means obtains, Or, failing, smiles in exile or in chains; Like good Aurelius, let him reign, or bleed Like Socrates--that man is great indeed. One self-approving hour whole years outweighs Of stupid starers and of loud huzzas; And more true joy Marcellus exiled feels, Than Cæsar with a senate at his heels.
Though world on world in myriad myriads roll Round us, each with different powers, And other forms of life than ours, What know we greater than the soul? On God and Godlike men we build our trust.
How seldom, friend, a good, great man inherits Honor and wealth, with all his worth and pains! It seems a story from the world of spirits When any man obtains that which he merits, Or any merits that which he obtains.
For shame, my friend; renounce this idle strain! What would'st thou have a good, great man obtain? Wealth, title, dignity, a golden chain, Or heap of corses which his sword hath slain? Goodness and greatness are not means, but ends. Hath he not always treasurer, always friends, The great, good man? Three treasures--love, and light, And calm thoughts, equable as infants' breath; And three fast friends, more sure than day or night-- Himself, his Maker, and the angel Death.