golden rules in rhyme.
55
Nor idly waste the golden hours,
The plumes of Time's swift wings:
The watch must still be wound to work,
Or rust corrodes its springs.
The plumes of Time's swift wings:
The watch must still be wound to work,
Or rust corrodes its springs.
If once a purpose pure and high
You form, for naught forego it!
"The mulberry leaf to silk is changed
By Patience," says the poet.
You form, for naught forego it!
"The mulberry leaf to silk is changed
By Patience," says the poet.
Let Fancy fly her fairy kite,
And light with wit its wing, dear
But oh, lest it go out of sight,
Bid Reason hold the string, dear.
And light with wit its wing, dear
But oh, lest it go out of sight,
Bid Reason hold the string, dear.
For, soaring where the poet's heaven
With starry gems is spangled
It might, by Folly's zephyr driven,
In moonshine get entangled.
With starry gems is spangled
It might, by Folly's zephyr driven,
In moonshine get entangled.
Yet sneer not thou at those who rise
To loftier delusions;
"Great truths are oft," the sage replies,
"Foreshadow'd by illusions."
To loftier delusions;
"Great truths are oft," the sage replies,
"Foreshadow'd by illusions."
