SHEATHE , sheathe the sword while yet you may,
Be wise and harmless tho’ you’re gay.
As once to sober thought inclin’d,
This lesson pass’d across my mind;
I soon beheld a jocund train,
Led on by Satire o’er the plain,
Array’d in smiles and graces bland,
Each held a dagger in his hand;
Which by his flowing robe conceal’d,
The vision to my eyes reveal’d:
While wit who boasts superior powers,
Around her strew’d her baleful flowers;
And those who join’d this motley crew,
As on they pass’d, were not a few;
Friend against friend was quickly arm’d,
All in a moment felt alarm’d;
The fray commenc’d, the battle rag’d,
While in the furious strife engag’d,
Satire had pointed ev’ry dart,
And aim’d his arrows at the heart.
His quiver ev’ry hand supplied,
His weapons ev’ry shield defied.
I griev’d to see fair friendship’s laws,
Inverted in his odious cause;
And thus I said, or seem’d to say,
O sheathe the sword while yet ye may;
For while such danger is display’d,
How can ye wave the glitt’ring blade;
And while amus’d by Satire’s ray,
Its corruscations you display;
Reflect not that its edge may sever
Friendship’s strong tie and that for ever.
Be warn’d and quit this dangerous play,
And sheathe the sword while yet ye may.
(Elizabeth Bath)
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Based on Topics: Mind Poems, War & Peace Poems, Friendship Poems, Flowers Poems, Smiling Poems, Law & Regulation Poems, Imagination & Visualization Poems, Danger & Risk PoemsBased on Keywords: engag, griev, sheathe, amus, commenc, corruscations