Читать книгу Oxford Poetry 1917-1921 - Various Authors - Страница 12

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Take counsel, O my friend, of your heart's pride,

And choose the proud thing alway. Never heed

The "wretched, rash, intruding fools" of the world,

Nor take the half-truths that life brings old men

For wisdom: nor the naked indecencies

That purity-mongers have shamed children with

For goodness: nor the silly hypocrisies

Of mean men for humility. But say,

"God is my Father. Christ was young and died

To comfort me. The towering archangels

With all their blue and gold and steely mail

Are my strong helpers and mine elder brothers.

The sweet white virgins gone to martyrdom

Calm-eyed and singing are my sisters." Yea,

Because of all these things keep your heart proud.

Be proud enough to serve the poor, too proud

To attend the rich: enough to love, not hate,

And give, not sell. Remember gentleness

Is the heart's pride of understanding, truth

Her greatness that will not be afraid for wrath

Nor flatter favour. This remember also,

The pure in heart shall walk like fierce white flames

Questing across the world in goodlier hope

And knightlier courtesy than they of the Graal,

For these are they in the end that shall see God.