Thou hast begun well, Roe, which stand well too, And I know nothing more thou hast to do. He that is round within himself, and straight, Need seek no other strength, no other height; Fortune upon him breaks herself, if ill, And what would hurt his virtue makes it still. That thou at once, then, nobly may'st defend With thine own course the judgement of thy friend, Be always to thy gathered self the same: And study conscience, more than thou wouldst fame. Though both be good, the latter yet is worst, And ever is ill got without the first. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...O BLACK AND UNKNOWN BARDS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON DIVINA COMMEDIA (INTRODUCTORY POEMS): 1 by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 98. HE AND I by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI CHELSEA by LILLIAN M. (PETTES) AINSWORTH WILD ROSES by RHODA S. BARCLAY THE MUSIC OF THE SEA by QUINTIN BONE |