FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49  
50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   >>   >|  
l, he follows the description of the New Jerusalem given in the Book of the Revelation. He sees the Lamb and all his company, and with them again his lost Pearl. But it was not his prince's pleasure that he should cross the stream; for when his eyes and ears were so filled with delight that he could no longer restrain the attempt, he awoke out of his dream. My head upon that hill was laid There where my pearl to grounde strayed. I wrestled and fell in great affray, _fear._ And sighing to myself I said, "Now all be to that prince's paye." _pleasure._ After this, he holds him to that prince's will, and yearns after no more than he grants him. "As in water face is to face, so the heart of man." Out of the far past comes the cry of bereavement mingled with the prayer for hope: we hear, and lo! it is the cry and the prayer of a man like ourselves. From the words of the greatest man of his age, let me now gather two rich blossoms of utterance, presenting an embodiment of religious duty and aspiration, after a very practical fashion. I refer to two short lyrics, little noted, although full of wisdom and truth. They must be accepted as the conclusions of as large a knowledge of life in diversified mode as ever fell to the lot of man. GOOD COUNSEL OF CHAUCER. Fly from the press, and dwell with soothfastness; _truthfulness._ Suffice[29] unto thy good, though it be small; For hoard hath hate, and climbing tickleness;[30] Praise hath envy, and weal is blent over all.[31] Savour[32] no more than thee behove shall. Rede well thyself that other folk shall rede; _counsel._ And truth thee shall deliver--it is no drede. _there is no doubt._ Paine thee not each crooked to redress, _every crooked thing._ In trust of her that turneth as a ball: Fortune. Great rest standeth in little busi-ness. Beware also to spurn against a nail; _nail--to kick against Strive not as doth a crocke with a wall. [the pricks._ Deme thyself that demest others' deed; _judge._ And truth thee shall deliver--it is no drede. That thee is sent receive in buxomness: _submission_ The wrestling of this world asketh a fall. _tempts destruction_ Here is no home, here is but wilderness: Forth, pilgrim, forth!--beast, out of thy stall! Look up on high, and thanke God of[33] all. Wai
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49  
50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

prince

 

thyself

 

crooked

 

pleasure

 

deliver

 

prayer

 

counsel

 

truthfulness

 

soothfastness

 
Suffice

COUNSEL
 
CHAUCER
 

Savour

 
Praise
 

climbing

 
redress
 
tickleness
 

behove

 

destruction

 

tempts


asketh

 

submission

 
buxomness
 
wrestling
 

wilderness

 

thanke

 

pilgrim

 

receive

 

standeth

 

Beware


Fortune

 

turneth

 

demest

 

pricks

 

Strive

 

crocke

 

fashion

 
restrain
 

longer

 

attempt


sighing

 

strayed

 
grounde
 

wrestled

 

affray

 

delight

 
Revelation
 
company
 

description

 
Jerusalem