Ye who live, Do so each cause refer to heaven above, E'en as its motion, of necessity, Drew with it all that moves. If this were so, Free choice in you were none; nor justice would There should be joy for virtue, woe for ill. Your movements have their primal bent from heaven; Not all: yet said I all; what then ensues? Light have ye still to follow evil or good, And of the will free power, which, if it stand Firm and unwearied in heaven's first assay, Conquers at last, so it be cherished well, Triumphant over all. To mightier force, To better nature subject, ye abide Free, not constrained by that which form in you The reasoning mind uninfluenced of the stars. If then the present race of mankind err, Seek in yourselves the cause, and find it there." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JOY (2) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON CAVALIER TUNES: BOOT AND SADDLE by ROBERT BROWNING THE LISTENERS by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE A THOUGHT IN TWO MOODS by THOMAS HARDY A BALLAD OF TREES AND THE MASTER by SIDNEY LANIER |