And yet I cannot reprehend the flight, Or blame th' attempt presuming so to soar; The mounting venture for a high delight Did make the honor of the fall the more. For who gets wealth that puts not from the shore? Danger hath honor, great designs their fame; Glory doth follow, courage goes before; And though th' event oft answers not the same, Suffice that high attempts have never shame. The mean-observer, whom base safety keeps, Lives without honor, dies without a name, And in eternal darkness ever sleeps. And therefore, Delia, 'tis to me no blot To have attempted though attained thee not. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ASHURNATSIRPAL III by CARL SANDBURG FACADE: 24. AN OLD WOMAN LAMENTS IN SPRINGTIME by EDITH SITWELL THE CONTRETEMPS by THOMAS HARDY ON LENDING A PUNCH BOWL by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES CREPUSCULE DU MATIN; SONNET by AMY LOWELL LEXINGTON; 1775 by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER DRINKING SONG (1) by ALCAEUS OF MYTILENE |