Rewards of earth, nobility and fame, To senses glory, and to conscience woe, How little be you for so great a name? Yet less is he with men what thinks you so. For earthly power, that stands by fleshly wit, Hath banished that truth which should govern it. Nobility, power's golden fetter is, Wherewith wise kings subjection do adorn, To make man think her heavy yoke a bliss Because it makes him more than he was born. Yet still a slave, dimmed by mists of a crown, Lest he should see what riseth, what pulls down. Fame, that is but good words of evil deeds, Begotten by the harm we have, or do, Greatest far off, least ever where it breeds, We both with dangers and disquiet woo; And in our flesh, the vanities' false glass, We thus deceived, adore these calves of brass. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OCTAVES: 8 by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON TROY PARK: 5. THE CAT by EDITH SITWELL BALLAD MADE AT THE REQUEST OF HIS MOTHER .. PRAY TO OUR LADY by FRANCOIS VILLON ODE [ON THE POETS] by JOHN KEATS TO A PINE TREE by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL TOM DEADLIGHT by HERMAN MELVILLE THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE; A LEGEND OF GOTHAM by JOHN GODFREY SAXE |