Dependence! heavy, heavy are thy chains, And happier they who from the dangerous sea, Or the dark mine, procure with ceaseless pains An hard-earn'd pittance -- than who trust to thee! More blest the hind, who from his bed of flock Starts -- when the birds of morn their summons give, And waken'd by the lark -- "the shepherd's clock," Lives but to labour -- labouring but to live. More noble than the sycophant, whose art Must heap with taudry flowers thy hated shrine; I envy not the meed thou canst impart To crown his service -- while, tho' Pride combine With Fraud to crush me -- my unfetter'd heart Still to the Mountain Nymph may offer mine. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A THOUGHT by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES NICHOLAS NYE by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE THE SKELETON OF THE FUTURE; AT LENIN'S TOMB by CHRISTOPHER MURRAY GRIEVE WESSEX HEIGHTS by THOMAS HARDY TO DEAN-BOURN, A RUDE RIVER IN DEVON, BY WHICH ... HE LIVED by ROBERT HERRICK INVITATION TO A PAINTER: 1 by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 91 by EDWIN ARNOLD SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 16. VENUS INCARNATE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |