And what is faith, love, virtue unassayed Alone, without exterior help sustained?
Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve The faith they owe; when earnestly they seek Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail.
Only this I know, That one celestial father gives to all.
The first and wisest of them all professed To know this only, that he nothing knew.
In argument with men a woman ever Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause.
Nothing lovelier can be found In woman, than to study household good, And good works in her husband to promote.
Take heed lest passion sway Thy judgement to do aught, which else free will Would not admit.
Yet hold it more humane, more heav’nly, first, By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear.
Justice divine Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries.
Suffering for truth’s sake Is fortitude to highest victory, And to the faithful death the gate of life.
Hard are the ways of truth, and rough to walk.
Tears such as angels weep.
Few sometimes may know, when thousands err.
Yet I shall temper so Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most Them fully satisfy’d, and thee appease.
The brazen throat of war.
No war or battle sound Was heard the world around.
The rising world of waters dark and deep.
And fast by, hanging in a golden chain, This pendent world, in bigness as a star Of smallest magnitude, close by the moon.
Or if Virtue feeble were, Heav’n itself would stoop to her.
The work under our labour grows, Luxurious by restraint.