Seem not too conscious of thy worth, nor be The first that knows thy own sufficiency. If to thy king and country thy true care More serviceable is than others are That blaze in court, and every action sway, As if the kingdom on their shoulders lay. Or if thou serv'st a master, and dost see Others preferr'd of less desert than thee, Do not complain, though such a plaint be true: Lords will not give their favours as a due, But rather stay and hope: it cannot be But men at last must needs thy virtues see. So shall thy trust endure, and greater grow, Whilst they that are above thee fall below. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HE GOADS HIMSELF by LOUIS UNTERMEYER SONNET TO TARTAR, A TERRIER BEAUTY by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES WAPENTAKE; TO ALFRED TENNYSON by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW VILLANELLE OF CITY AND COUNTRY by ZOE AKINS FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE by EDWIN ARNOLD THE 'STAY AT HOME'S' PLAINT, 1878 by GEORGE AUGUSTUS BAKER JR. |