ASPIRING thoughts led Phaethon amiss; Proud Icarus did fall, he soar'd so high; Seek not to climb with fond Semiramis, Lest son revenge the father's injury: Take heed, ambition is a sugar'd ill, That Fortune lays, presumptuous minds to spill. The bitter grief that frets the quiet mind, The sting that pricks the froward man to woe, Is envy, which in honour seld we find, And yet to honour sworn a secret foe: Learn this of me, envy not others' state; The fruits of envy are envý and hate. The misty cloud that so eclipseth fame, That gets reward a chaos of despite, Is black revenge, which ever winneth shame, A fury vile that's hatchèd in the night: Beware, seek not revenge against thy foe, Lest once revenge thy fortune overgo. These blazing comets do foreshow mishap; Let not the flaming lights offend thine eye: Look ere thou leap, prevent an after-clap; These three, forewarnèd, well mayest thou fly: If now by choice thou aim'st at happy health, Eschew self-love, choose for the common-wealth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PLAINT OF THE DISGUSTED BRITON IN THE STATES by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS [JANUARY 8, 1815] by THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH A MEDITATION FOR HIS MISTRESS by ROBERT HERRICK GEORGE WASHINGTON by JOHN HALL INGHAM TWELVE ARTICLES by JONATHAN SWIFT I HAVE A GARMENT by ABRAHAM IBN EZRA |