Careless of censure, nor too fond of fame, Still pleased to praise, yet not afraid to blame, Averse alike to flatter or offend, Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.
Careless of censure, nor too fond of fame, Still pleased to praise, yet not afraid to blame, Averse alike to flatter or offend, Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.
All crowd, who foremost shall be damned to fame.
As yet a child, not yet a fool to fame, I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came.
Edward and Henry, now the boast of fame,
And virtuous Alfred, a more sacred name,
After a life of gen'rous toils endur'd,
The Gaul subdu'd, or property secur'd,
Ambition humbled, mighty cities storm'd,
Or laws establish'd, and the world reform'd;
Clos'd their long glories with a sigh, to find
Th' unwilling gratitude of base mankind!
Who builds a church to God and not to fame, Will never mark the marble with his name.
Fame can never make us lie down contentedly on a deathbed.
The Critick else proceeds without Remorse,
Seizes your Fame, and puts his Laws in force.
There stern religion quench'd th' unwilling flame,
There died the best of passions, love and fame.
May one kind grave unite each hapless name,
And graft my love immortal on thy fame!
So peaceful rests, without a stone, a name,
What once had beauty, titles, wealth, and fame.
If parts allure thee, think how Bacon shined, The wisest, brightest, meanest of mankind Or, ravished with the whistling of a name, See Cromwell damned to everlasting fame.
Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.
© 2020 Inspirational Stories
© 2020 Inspirational Stories