In knowledge all unschool'd, and in themselves,
And they shall learn wise lessons from his lash.
He teacheth Folly wisdom, and unscales
The eyes of those that would of choice be blind,-
Compels e'en Blindness' self to learn of him!
Tho' fool's back oft his iron rod rends sore,
Yet every lash that falls is for his good,
A weight of knowledge gives not else obtained.
He is as Mercy's self, and spares the rod
Till Folly 'side from own true interest turns:-
Within the school of sage Experience,
E'en Folly learns-in future to be wise.
He's Nature's teacher, training the untrained
Life's devious paths to run and stumble not,-
To steer Man's bark o'er Time's tumultuous sea
To harbor safe of Happiness and Heaven.
He wears a world of things in his long head-
Strength-intellectual strong as pyramid!
Each Wrinkle of his Brow,wise lesson is
To Wisdom's self, not found in all the books;
And one by one, I pluck them off at will,
gem the crown on Wisdom's hoary brow.
Look into self, and seek thyself to know,-
Knowledge enough to understand below.
Wouldst thou learn much, learn little at a time, Add Perseverance, and the crown is thine.
On with Ambition
To gain addition
To-Reputation.
Souls, subject unto dust, are slaves;
Men that subdue not self are knaves,—
Must conquer, to be good and great,
And labor, if you'd fill your pate :—
Burst spirit-bonds-self-vietors be,
Soul-freedom is-heaven-liberty.
If you to Fortune would aspire,
Fling all your irons in the fire,
And blow and strike, and-never tire.
Sap-headed Folly cries- I could do,'
Arm-folded Indolence-' I will do,'
While Wisdom's actions speak-' I do do.'
The spirit's heavenly light
A-shine on Mental night.
True Wisdom's guide is Reason's rules,
While sad Experience is the fool's.
Sage Wisdom! mid-day's sun-Mind-life and light, Whose floods of glory chase dark Error's night.
Blest Wisdom freights life's moment ere it flies
With Virtue's diamonds, loaded for the skies;
But Foolery grins to Foolery as she goes
To home of horrors, and to world of woes.
The child of Chaos and Eternal Night,
Not born to life by brooding Spirit's light.
From Wisdom's Eden-path base Folly flies,
Shadows to find, and loose realities.
The fool buys wisdom at his folly's cost,
And all he knows is learnt from what he's lost.
Starv'd fools oft live and die in hope
Of cast-off gown, or petticoat.
Her owlet-eyes, dim at the light,
And only gaze upon the night.
The blindest bat on earth is she,
Who having eyes-she will not see.
She heaps God-daring mountains to the sky,
And they shall fall upon her by and by;
She is forever like the lightning-rod,
Aspiring heaven to feel the bolts of God.
The scholar of vain Fashion's school
Learns first to be base Folly's tool,
Then graduates-Time's silly fool—
To toe the mark of Vanity by rule,
When e'er I see a gilded form,
Or walking thing of pride,
I'm always sure their richest coat
Is on their outward side.
Greatness, in travail for a greater name,
Mortal, upreaching for immortal Fame.
The shrub, low-bending in the vale,
Doth play securely with the gale,
Whiles lo! the lofty mountain oak
Down falls-smote with the thunder's stroke.
Renown is, Life's own true sublime,
Soul's foot-prints left in sands of Time.
The sea-shell whispers on for aye
Of worth it once possess'd;
So doth Renown perfume the name
Of Fame's departed bless'd.
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