42. Fair Words
|
{88}
THY words are good, and freely given, |
| As though thou felt
them true; |
| Friend, think thee well, to hell or heaven |
| A serious heart is
due. |
It pains thee sore, man's will should swerve |
| In his true path
divine; |
| And yet thou ventur'st nought to serve |
| Thy neighbour's
weal nor thine. |
Beware! such words may once be said, |
| Where shame and
fear unite; |
| But, spoken twice, they mark instead |
| A sin against the
light. |
Gibraltar.
December 17, 1832. |