(A VERSIFICATION OF PART OF THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER OF FIRST CORINTHIANS) THOUGH I were gifted with an angel's tongue, And voice like that with which the prophets sung, Yet if mild charity were not within, 'T were all an impious mockery and sin. Though I the gift of prophecy possessed, And faith like that which Abraham professed, They all were like a tinkling cymbal's sound, If meek-eyed charity did not abound. Though I to feed the poor my goods bestow, And to the flames my body I should throw, Yet the vain act would never cover sin, If heaven-born charity were not within. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONG BY THE WINDOW BEFORE BED by KATHERINE MANSFIELD THE FOUNTAIN by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL THE SECRETARY; WRITTEN AT THE HAGUE, 1696 by MATTHEW PRIOR ADAM'S CURSE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS CASTLES by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH ON THE MANTLEPIECE by JAMES LANE ALLEN THE OLD CAMP; WRITTEN IN A ROMAN FORTIFICATION IN BAVARIA by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN HINC LACHRIMAE; OR THE AUTHOR TO AURORA: 17 by WILLIAM BOSWORTH |