Yet, Percy, not for this, should he whose eye Sees loveliness, and the unselfish joy Of justice, turn him, like a peevish boy, At hindrances and thwartings; and deny Wisdom's divinest privilege, constancy; That which most proves him free from the alloy Of useless earth, -- least prone to the decoy That clamors down weak pinions from the sky. The Spirit of Beauty, though by solemn quires Hourly blasphemed, stoops not from its calm end, And forward breathing love, but ever on Rolls the round day, and calls the starry fires To their glad watch. Therefore, high-hearted friend, Be still with thine own task in unison. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE NIGHTINGALE by PAUL VERLAINE EACH AND [OR, IN] ALL by RALPH WALDO EMERSON WHAT THE SONNET IS by EUGENE JACOB LEE-HAMILTON THE BALLAD OF DEAD LADIES by FRANCOIS VILLON PLAYING IT SAFE by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS AGAMEMNON: THE PURPLE CARPER by AESCHYLUS |