Of Humility. From Proverbial Philosophy Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDAEAFGHAAICJKLHHM NOPQRCSTDUVWXVYWUWAZ W WPWWA2TDB2VAHWC2AHHD 2AWA AXAXWWAWWAVWAQWWA2E2 WE2 HVice is grown aweary of her gawds and donneth russet garments | A |
Loving for change to walk as a nun beneath a modest veil | B |
For Pride hath noted how all admire the fairness of Humility | C |
And to clutch the praise he coveteth is content to be drest in hair cloth | D |
And wily Lust tempteth the young heart that is proof against the bravery of harlots | A |
With timid tears and retiring looks of an artful seeming maid | E |
And indolent Apathy sleepily ashamed of his dull lack lustre face | A |
Is glad of the livery of meekness that charitable cloak and cowl | F |
And Hatred hideth his demon frown beneath a gentle mask | G |
And Slander snake like creepeth in the dust thinking to escape recrimination | H |
But the world hath gained somewhat from its years and is quick to penetrate disguises | A |
Neither in all these is it easily deceived but rightly divideth the true from the false | A |
Yet there is a meanness of spirit that is fair in the eyes of most men | I |
Yea and seemeth fair unto itself loving to be thought Humility | C |
Its choler is not roused by insolence neither do injuries distiub it | J |
Honest indignation is strange unto its breast and just reproof unto its lip | K |
It shrinketh looking fearfully on men fawning at the feet of the great | L |
The breath of calumny is sweet unto its ear and it courteth the rod of persecution | H |
But what art thou not a man deputed chief of the creation | H |
Art thou not a soldier of the right militant for God and good | M |
Shall virtue and truth be degraded because thou art too base to uphold them | N |
Or Goliath be bolder in blaspheming for want of a David in the camp | O |
I say not avenge injuries for the ministry of vengeance is not thine | P |
But wherefore rebuke not a liar wherefore do dishonour to thyself | Q |
Wherefore let the evil triumph when the just and the right are on thy side | R |
Such Humility is abject it lacketh the life of sensibility | C |
And that resignation is but mock where the burden is not felt | S |
Suspect thyself and thy meekness thou art mean and indifferent to sin | T |
And the heart that should grieve and forgive is case hardened and forgetteth | D |
Humility mainly becometh the converse of man with his Maker | U |
But oftentimes it seemeth out of place in the intorcourse of man with man | V |
Yea it is the cringer to his equal that is chiefly seen bold to his God | W |
While the martyr whom a world cannot brow beat is humble as a child before Him | X |
Render unto all men their due but remember thou also art a man | V |
And cheat not thyself of the reverence which is owing to thy reasonable being | Y |
Be courteous and listen and learn but teach and answer if thou canst | W |
Serve thee of thy neighbours wisdom but be not enslaved as to a master | U |
Where thou perceivest knowledge bend the ear of attention and respect | W |
But yield not further to the teaching than as thy mind is warranted by reasons | A |
Better is an obstinate disputant that yieldeth inch by inch | Z |
Than the shallow traitor to himself who surrendereth to half an argument | W |
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Modesty winneth good report but scorn cometh close upon servility | W |
Therefore use meekness with discretion casting not pearls before swine | P |
For a fool will tread upon thy neck if he seeth thee lying in the dust | W |
And there be companies and seasons where resolute bearing is but duty | W |
If a good man discloseth his secret failings unto the view of the profane | A2 |
What doeth he but harm unto his brother confirming him in his sin | T |
There is a concealment that is right and an open mouthed humility that erreth | D |
There is a candour near akin to folly and a meekness looking like shame | B2 |
Masculine sentiments vigorously holden well become a man | V |
But a weak mind hath a timorous grasp and mistaketh it for tenderness of conscience | A |
Many are despised for then folly who put it to the account of their religion | H |
And because men treat them with contempt they look to their God for glory | W |
But contempt shall still be then reward who betrayed their Master unto ridicule | C2 |
Reflecting on Him in themselves meanness and ignorance and cowardice | A |
A Christian hath a royal spirit and need not be ashamed but unto One | H |
Among just men walketh he softly but the world should see him as a champion | H |
His humbleness is far unlike the shame that covereth the profligate and weak | D2 |
When the sober reproof of virtue hath touched their tingling ears | A |
It is born of love and wisdom and is worthy of all honour | W |
And the sweet persuasion of its smile changeth contempt into reverence | A |
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A man of a haughty spirit is daily adding to his enemies | A |
He standeth as the Arab in the desert and the hands of all men are against him | X |
A man of a base mind daily subtracteth from his friends | A |
For he holdeth himself so cheaply that others learn to despise him | X |
But where the meekness of self knowledge veileth the front of self respect | W |
There look thou for the man whom none can know but they will honour | W |
Humility is the softening shadow before the stature of Excellence | A |
And lieth lowly on the ground beloved and lovely as the violet | W |
Humility is the fair haired maid that called Worth her brother | W |
The gentle silent nurse that fostereth infant virtues | A |
Humility bringeth no excuse she is welcome to God and man | V |
Her countenance is needful unto all who would prosper in either world | W |
And the mild light of her sweet face is mirrored in the eyes of her companions | A |
And straightway stand they accepted children of penitence and love | Q |
As when the blind man is nigh unto a rose its sweetness is the herald of its beauty | W |
So when thou savourest humility be sure thou art nigh unto merit | W |
A gift rejoiceth the covetous and praise fatteneth the vain | A2 |
And the pride of man delighteth in the humble bearing of his fellow | E2 |
But to the tender benevolence of the unthanked Almoner of good | W |
Humility is queen among the graces for she giveth Him occasion to bestow | E2 |
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Transcribed from Proverbial Philosophy by Mick Puttock August Spelling punctuation and grammer left mostly unchanged from the th edition | H |
Martin Farquhar Tupper
(1)
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