BY such examples moved to unbought pains, The people work like congregated bees; Eager to build the quiet Fortresses Where Piety, as they believe, obtains From Heaven a 'general' blessing; timely rains Or needful sunshine; prosperous enterprise, Justice and peace: -- bold faith! yet also rise The sacred Structures for less doubtful gains. The Sensual think with reverence of the palms Which the chaste Votaries seek, beyond the grave If penance be redeemable, thence alms Flow to the poor, and freedom to the slave; And if full oft the Sanctuary save Lives black with guilt, ferocity it calms. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IT COULDN'T BE DONE by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST AT CASTERBRIDGE FAIR: 7. AFTER THE FAIR by THOMAS HARDY DANNY DEEVER by RUDYARD KIPLING TALES OF A WAYSIDE INN: THE THIRD DAY: SCANDERBERG by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: THE HILL by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SONG, FR. MEASURE FOR MEASURE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AFTER LONG SILENCE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS ALEC YEATON'S SON; GLOUCESTER, AUGUST, 1720 by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |