Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY, 2D SERIES: THE ART OF GIVING, by MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER Poet's Biography First Line: Yet heed thou wisely this; give seldom to thy better Last Line: Work and wages make a light heart, but the mendicant asketh with a heavy spirit. Subject(s): Kindness | ||||||||
YET heed thou wisely this; give seldom to thy better; For such obtrusive boon shall savour of presumption; Or, if his courteous bearing greet thy proffered kindness, Shall not thine independent honesty be vexed at the semblance of a bribe? Moreover, heed thou this; give to thine equal charily, The occasion fair and fitting, the gift well chosen and desired: Hath he been prosperous and blest? a flower may show thy gladness; Is he in need? with liberal love, tender him the well-filled purse: Disease shall welcome friendly care in grapes and precious unguents; And when a darling child hath died, give praise, and hope, and sympathy. Yet once more, heed thou this; give to the poor discreetly, Nor suffer idle sloth to lean upon thy charitable arm: To diligence give, as to an equal, on just and fit occasion; Or he bartereth his hard-earned self-reliance for the casual lottery of gifts. The timely loan hath added nerve, where easy liberality would palsy; Work and wages make a light heart, but the mendicant asketh with a heavy spirit. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOR THE SAKE OF STRANGERS by DORIANNE LAUX A CONSIDERABLE SPECK by ROBERT FROST BUT I DO NOT NEED KINDNESS by GREGORY NUNZIO CORSO HER DILEMMA; IN CHURCH by THOMAS HARDY PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY, 1ST SERIES: THE MARRIAGE MARKET by MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY, 1ST SERIES: THE POOR RELATION OR PIOUS HOPE ... by MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY, 2D SERIES: PORTRAIT OF A VICTORIAN AUTHOR by MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER |
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