UNTRAMMELLED Giant of the West, With all of Nature's gifts endowed, With all of Heaven's mercies blessed, Nor of thy power unduly proud -- Peerless in courage, force, and skill, And godlike in thy strength of will, -- Before thy feet the ways divide: One path leads up to heights sublime; The other downward slopes, where bide The refuse and the wrecks of Time. Choose then, nor falter at the start, O choose the nobler path and part! Be thou the guardian of the weak, Of the unfriended, thou the friend; No guerdon for thy valor seek, No end beyond the avowed end. Wouldst thou thy godlike power preserve, Be godlike in the will to serve! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FAIRY CHILD by JOHN ANSTER THE EXILE'S SONG by ROBERT GILFILLAN SONNET TO MRS. REYNOLD'S CAT by JOHN KEATS IN THE CHURCHYARD AT CAMBRIDGE by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE SPIRIT OF NATURE by RICHARD REALF TIME'S REVENGE by AGATHIAS SCHOLASTICUS UPON THE LATE LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT OF FIRE ... by JOHN ALLISON (1645-1683) |