I. O Indolence! curst worm That cankerest in mid bloom fair virtues form, That when with heaviest pain We breathe released from Passions hateful reign, Creep'st with thy noisome blight Into the heart, and , killest its promise quite, Were it not better even again to be The world's unthinking slave, than pine in gloom with thee? II. Fame sounds her spirit rousing trump in vain! To thy dull sluggish ear Vain hope's sweet whisper or the shriek of fear, Nor loud ambition's call Can wake the palsied soul thou holdest in thrall, Nor craving Avarice, nor Hate, nor love, Nor aught on earth beneath, nor aught in Heav'n above. III. Yet triumphs too thou hast Witness full many a dawning hope o'ercast Witness from day to day Full many a ruin'd friendship's slow decay, Full many a joy effaced, And lovely flower of genius run to waste, And golden hour of happiness unprized, And scheme of good forgot, and heavenly aid despised. IV. As gangrene taints the blood, Nor rests till the whole frame be quite subdued, So gradual is thy growth, In noble souls thou unseen rust of sloth! Writhing with unfelt shame, We loathe thy yoke, yet loathing live the same. O subtle paced, and velvet footed evil Let one among thy slaves have leave to call thee-devil! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...1914: 5. THE SOLDIER by RUPERT BROOKE AN ANTE-BELLUM SERMON by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR BROWNING AT ASOLO by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON THE OLD CHURCHYARD OF BONCHURCH by PHILIP BOURKE MARSTON MAY (1) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI I HAVE LOVED by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS A PORTRAIT by JOSEPH ASHBY-STERRY EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 31. 'TIS YIELDING GAINS THE LOVER VICTORY by PHILIP AYRES |