IN a great Court, near a fam'd River's side, With hopes of greatness fed, I still reside; But where to fix I ne'er shall understand, Foll'wing what flies, and shunning what's at hand. Others from me the gifts of Heav'n retain, The lucky fool does still the purchase gain; At air I grasp, and after shadows strive, Live for my foes, if this be said to live. I slight myself, love him that injures me, And in soft words find greatest treachery; I mortal hatred under smiles behold, And starve for want, amidst great heaps of gold. Now Envy's strokes, then Fortune's I sustain, And want a friend to whom I might complain; I see th' ensuing storm, and no help nigh, Grieve for one loss, and straight another spy. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A WOMAN'S SHORTCOMINGS by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE ASSAULT HEROIC by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES TO A DOG'S MEMORY by LOUISE IMOGEN GUINEY ODE FOR A SOCIAL MEETING, WITH SLIGHT ALTERATIONS BY A TEETOTALER by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES FOR THE HOLY FAMILY, BY MICHELANGELO (IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI LINES TO HANNAH AND PHOEBE by BERNARD BARTON |