A Century of Emblems Part 16

DUTY TO G.o.d.

What frenzy dreams of an unpunctual sun?

Lord, as in Heaven, on Earth Thy Will be done.

EARTH.

To him who sets on earth his only care, Life is idolatry, and Death despair.

ELEVATED NONENt.i.tY.

Through all these years attendance thus to dance, To gain a public insignificance!

ENTHUSIASTS.

But for such flight, although it frantic seems, Spirits would crawl; no mean without extremes.

EXPERIENCE.

The hard-won fruit of failure and of sorrow, The wisdom many buy, but few will borrow.

FACTS AND IDEAS.

We cherish our ideas like hot-house flowers, Fact, stubborn a.s.s, breaks in and all devours.

FACTS AND IMAGINATION.

In facts ama.s.sed a world chaotic lies, Imagination bids the Kosmos rise.

FAITH.

Faith prays more fervently for love than light; Love's voice will guide to Heaven though all be night.

FAITH WITHOUT LOVE.

Who loveless faith imbibes, that devil's drink, Makes life a mad-house, death a fiery sink.

FAITH AND REASON.

Reason, G.o.d's revelation shows to Faith, Faith, Reason arms for sorrow or for death.

FAITH'S EFFECT.

Pierced hearts by faith may light and cheerful be; Pure gold admits the finest filigree.

FEAR OF PEDANTRY.

Scared by the name of pedant, many flee Into pert slang or tedious levity.

FIRE-EATER.

The roar of cannon-b.a.l.l.s delights his ears, To him it is the music of the spheres.

FOOLHARDINESS.

Take sense away and men won't dare the less, But courage then we call foolhardiness.

FRIENDs.h.i.+P.

Scan not a friend with microscopic gla.s.s; You know his faults, then let his foibles pa.s.s.

GENIUS.

Draws like Prometheus from the heavenly hearth Creative fire that glorifies our earth.

GENIUS AND TALENT.

This, Talent reproduces to a turn, Brightly it s.h.i.+nes, but ah! it will not burn.

HALF BETTER THAN THE WHOLE.

Share happy fortune with thy friend, my soul, So shall thy half be better than the whole.

HAPPINESS.

Isle of our hopes beyond the sea of tears, Reefed round with sin and woe, delays and fears.

HEARTLESS FUN.