MOST rare is still most noble found, Most noble still most incomplete; Sad law, which leaves King Love uncrown'd In this obscure, terrestrial seat! With bale more sweet than others' bliss, And bliss more wise than others' bale, The secrets of the world are his. And freedom without let or pale. O, zealous good, O, virtuous glee, Religious, and without alloy, O, privilege high, which none but he Who highly merits can enjoy; O, Love, who art that fabled sun Which all the world with bounty loads, Without respect of realms, save one, And gilds with double lustre Rhodes; A day of whose delicious life, Though full of terrors, full of tears, Is better than of other life A hundred thousand million years; Thy heavenly splendour magnifies The least commixture of earth's mould, Cheapens thyself in thine own eyes, And makes the foolish mocker bold. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AFTER THE QUARREL by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE OWL CRITIC by JAMES THOMAS FIELDS JAZZONIA by JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES NORMAN CRADLE-SONG by VINCENT JAMES O'SULLIVAN A CAUTION TO POETS by MATTHEW ARNOLD |