How seldom, Friend! a good great man inherits Honor or wealth with all his worth and pains! It sounds like stories from the land of spirits. If any man obtain that which he merits, Or any merit that which he obtains. [REPLY TO THE ABOVE] For shame, dear Friend; renounce this canting strain! What wouldst thou have a good great man obtain? Place -- titles -- salary -- a gilded chain -- Or throne of corses which his sword has slain? Greatness and goodness are not means, but ends! Hath he not always treasures, always friends, The good great man? three treasures, -- love, and light, And calm thoughts, regular as infant's breath; And three firm friends, more sure than day and night -- Himself, his Maker, and the angel Death. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MOTHER AND POET; TURIN, AFTER THE NEWS FROM GAETA, 1861 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING ROBERT BRUCE'S ADDRESS TO HIS ARMY BEFORE BANNOCKBURN by ROBERT BURNS HIC VIR, HIC EST' by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY THE PLAINT OF THE CAMEL by CHARLES EDWARD CARRYL THE COMMON LOT by JAMES MONTGOMERY A FAREWELL TO LONDON IN THE YEAR 1715 by ALEXANDER POPE LAUS VENERIS by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE |