Methinks I am a prophet new inspired
And thus, expiring, do foretell of him:
His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last,
For violent fires soon burn out themselves;
Small show'rs last long, but sudden storms are short;
He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes;
With eager feeding doth choke the feeder;
Light vanity, insatiate cormorant,
Consuming means, soon preys upon itself.
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Self-love seems so often unrequited.
Self-love seems so often unrequited.
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
read more
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say 'It lightens.'
The earth is rocking, the skies are riven--
Jove in a passion, in god-like fashion,
Is breaking read more
The earth is rocking, the skies are riven--
Jove in a passion, in god-like fashion,
Is breaking the crystal urns of heaven.
Vain-glorious men are the scorn of the wise, the admiration of fools, the idols of paradise, and the slaves of read more
Vain-glorious men are the scorn of the wise, the admiration of fools, the idols of paradise, and the slaves of their own vaunts.
Hasten deliberately.
[Lat., Festina lente.]
Hasten deliberately.
[Lat., Festina lente.]
Where doth the world thrust forth a vanity
(So it be new, there's no respect how vile)
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Where doth the world thrust forth a vanity
(So it be new, there's no respect how vile)
That is not quickly buzzed into his ears?
As far as could ken thy chalky cliffs,
When from thy shore the tempest beat us back,
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As far as could ken thy chalky cliffs,
When from thy shore the tempest beat us back,
I stood upon the hatches in the storm,
And when the dusky sky began to rob
My earnest-gaping sight of thy land's view,
I took a costly jewel from my neck,
A heart it was, bound in with diamonds,
And threw it toward thy land.
To act from pure benevolence is not possible for finite beings. Human benevolence is mingled with vanity, interest, or some read more
To act from pure benevolence is not possible for finite beings. Human benevolence is mingled with vanity, interest, or some other motive.
Hasten slowly and ye shall soon arrive.
Hasten slowly and ye shall soon arrive.
