THIS extent hath freedom's ground, -- In my freedom I am bound Never any soul to wound. Not my own: it is not mine, Lord, except to make it thine, By good works through grace divine. Not another's: Thou alone Keepest judgment for thine own; Only unto Thee is known What to pity, what to blame; How the fierce temptation came: What is honor, what is shame. Right is bound in this -- to win Good till injury begin; That, and only that, is sin. Selfish good may not befall Any man, or great or small; Best for one is best for all. And who vainly doth desire Good through evil to acquire, In his bosom taketh fire. Wronging no man, Lord, nor Thee Vexing, I do pray to be In my soul, my body, free. Free to freely leave behind When the better things I find, Worser things, howe'er enshrined. So that pain may peace enhance, And through every change and chance, I upon myself, advance. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPITAPH ON HIMSELF by MATTHEW PRIOR ARIEL'S SONG (2), FR. THE TEMPEST by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE GIVE HIM HIS DUE by LEVI BISHOP PLANTING by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN UNCLE SIMON AND UNCLE JIM by CHARLES FARRAR BROWNE SONGS OF THE SEA CHILDREN: 67 by BLISS CARMAN PHANTOM OR FACT; A DIALOGUE IN VERSE by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |