Serve God -- by the eternal heaven's chart Steer thine observant course: Watch nature's workings, and with willing heart Obey the mighty force. Insult not faith -- if thou dost not believe Scorn not the saints and sages. A people knows its god: do thou receive The gifts of all the ages. Obey the church -- for men have need to pray And much the prophets saw. If thou hast visions, break thou not away, But add them to the law. Honour thy fathers -- make thy spirit strong With wisdom of the past, Then speak thy doctrine, that its days be long And that thy kingdom last. Condemn not life -- by one sole law all things Are hurried on their way: The ocean rages and the serpent stings As thou dost sin and pray. Love not -- all sorrow comes from loving life And from desire all pains. Sell not for love thy freedom to a wife; Love goes, the bond remains. Think not to die -- for when thy body lies Beneath a graven stone, Thy soul shall read there, through a stranger's eyes, The deeds it once had done. Seek truth -- but lightly hold its counterfeit In mortal thought or word. The brain is full of sound: the infinite Remains unseen, unheard. Envy not men -- rejoice if something fair To thy dim eyes is shown, But know that all the beauty that is there Some god hath called his own. Strive not -- but free thy bosom and resign Thy wish and thy endeavour, And the sweet kernel of the good is thine, Since peace is thine for ever. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LAST MAN'S CLUB by JAMES GALVIN BEFORE A PAINTING by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE FABRIC OF LIFE by KAY RYAN ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: FOURTH SONG by PHILIP SIDNEY A SATIRE [OR, SATYR] AGAINST MANKIND by JOHN WILMOT EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 19. THE HEART, LOVE'S BUTT by PHILIP AYRES BOTHWELL: PART 6 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN EPITAPH; INSCRIPTION FOR A MONUMENT ERECTED BY GENTLEMAN FOR HIS LADY by JAMES BEATTIE |