Rewards of earth, nobility and fame, To senses glory, and to conscience woe, How little be you for so great a name? Yet less is he with men what thinks you so. For earthly power, that stands by fleshly wit, Hath banished that truth which should govern it. Nobility, power's golden fetter is, Wherewith wise kings subjection do adorn, To make man think her heavy yoke a bliss Because it makes him more than he was born. Yet still a slave, dimmed by mists of a crown, Lest he should see what riseth, what pulls down. Fame, that is but good words of evil deeds, Begotten by the harm we have, or do, Greatest far off, least ever where it breeds, We both with dangers and disquiet woo; And in our flesh, the vanities' false glass, We thus deceived, adore these calves of brass. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOWN BY THE CARIB SEA: 6. SUNSET IN THE TROPICS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE LAUGHERS by LOUIS UNTERMEYER THE TEMPEST: PROLOGUE by JOHN DRYDEN THE HILL WIFE: THE IMPULSE by ROBERT FROST SONNET ON FAME (2) by JOHN KEATS AN ESSAY ON CRITICISM by ALEXANDER POPE |