Desire not thy mean fortunes for to set Next to the stately manors of the great. He will suspect thy labours, and oppress, Fearing thy greatness makes his wealth the less. Great ones do love no equals, but must be Above the terms of all comparity. Such a rich neighbour is compared best To the great pike, that eats up all the rest: Or else like Pharaoh's cow, that in an hour Will seven of his fattest friends devour. Or like the sea, whose vastness swallows clean All other streams, though no increase be seen. Live by the poor; they do the poor no harm: So bees thrive best when they together swarm. Rich men are bears and poor men ought to fear 'em Like ravenous wolves; 'tis dangerous living near 'em. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...STUDY FOR A GEOGRAPHICAL TRAIL; 1. SEATTLE by CLARENCE MAJOR THE SMILING MOUTH by CHARLES D'ORLEANS THE PRETTY GIRL OF LOCH DAN by SAMUEL FERGUSON AUSPEX by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL LOVE LIES BLEEDING by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI ON SEEING THE SUN SHINE ... MY WINDOW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE YEAR by LUCY AIKEN |