Malice and love, in their ways opposite, The one to hurt itself for others' good, The other, to have good by others' spite, Both raging most when they be most withstood, Though enemies, yet do in this agree, That both still break the hearts wherein they be. Malice a habit is, wrought in the spirit, By intricate opinion's information, Of scornful wrong or of suppressing merit, Which either wounds men's states or reputation, And tyrant-like, though show of strength it bear, Yet is but weakness grown, enraged by fear. Love is the true or false report of sense, Who sent as spies, returning news of worth, With over-wonder breed the heart's offense, Not bringing in, but carrying pleasure forth, And child-like must have all things that they see, So much less lovers, than things loved be. Malice, like ruin, with itself overthrows Mankind, and therefore plays a devil's part; Love pulls itself down, but to build up those It loves, and therefore bears an angel's heart. Tyrants through fear and malice feed on blood, Good kings secure at home, seek all men's good. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A PRAYER by HENRY MAXIMILIAN BEERBOHM MY GARDEN by CHAIM NACHMAN BIALIK FESTUBERT: THE OLD GERMAN LINE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE PASTURE POND by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN HIS GLORY TELL by HORATIO (HORATIUS) BONAR THE NEWPORT TOWER by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD THE FIVE CARLINS; AN ELECTION BALLAD by ROBERT BURNS E NIHILO NIHIL by GEORGE GORDON BYRON BRISTOWE TRAGEDIE: OR, THE DEATH OF SYR CHARLES BAWDIN by THOMAS CHATTERTON |