It never was our guise
To slight the poor, or aught humane despise.

It never was our guise
To slight the poor, or aught humane despise.

He scorn'd his own, who felt another's woe.

He scorn'd his own, who felt another's woe.

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy
right hand doeth:
That thine read more

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy
right hand doeth:
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in
secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Shut not thy purse-strings always against painted distress.

Shut not thy purse-strings always against painted distress.

Scatter plenty o'er a smiling land.

Scatter plenty o'er a smiling land.

Pity the sorrow of a poor old man,
Whose trembling limbs have brought him to your door.

Pity the sorrow of a poor old man,
Whose trembling limbs have brought him to your door.

He believed that he was born, not for himself, but for the whole
world.
[Lat., Nec sibi sed read more

He believed that he was born, not for himself, but for the whole
world.
[Lat., Nec sibi sed toti genitum se credere mundo.]

Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence, of this
virtue.

Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence, of this
virtue.

His house was known to all the vagrant train,
He chid their wanderings but reliev'd their pain;
read more

His house was known to all the vagrant train,
He chid their wanderings but reliev'd their pain;
The long remembered beggar was his guest,
Whose beard descending swept his aged breast.