THE bard must have a kind, courageous heart, And natural chivalry to aid the weak. He must believe the best of every thing; Love all below, and worship all above. All animals are living hieroglyphs. The dashing dog, and stealthy-stepping cat, Hawk, bull, and all that breathe, mean something more To the true eye than their shapes show; for all Were made in love, and made to be beloved. Thus must he think as to earth's lower life, Who seeks to win the world to thought and love, As doth the bard, whose habit is all kindness To every thing. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SENSITIVE PLANT by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY TIPPERARY: 2. AS THE TRANSLATORS WOULD HAVE INTERLINED IT . . . by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS SONNET: EUTERPE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH TO A BIRCH TREE by KENNETH SLADE ALLING MY FORE-ELDERS by WILLIAM BARNES THE IVORY GATE; LOVE-IN-IDLENESS by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE WANDERER: 1. IN ITALY: ROOT AND LEAF by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON |