1. Fling this useless book away, And presume no more to pray. Heaven is just, and can bestow Mercy on none but those that mercy show. With a proud heart maliciously inclined Not to increase, but to subdue mankind, In vain you vex the gods with your petition; Without repentance and sincere contrition, You're in a reprobate condition. 2. Phyllis, to calm the angry powers And save my soul as well as yours, Relieve poor mortals from despair, And justify the gods that made you fair; And in those bright and charming eyes Let pity first appear, then love, That we by easy steps may rise Through all the joys on earth to those above. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPIGRAM ON MY WEDDING DAY: TO PENELOPE by GEORGE GORDON BYRON L.E.L. by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE LEPER by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A DRINKING SONG by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS LOOKING FORWARD by LAWRENCE ALMA-TADEMA A NAMELESS EPITAPH (2) by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE KNIGHT AND THE LADY; DOMESTIC LEGEND OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM |