A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields/Sonnet—The Present Age (Ferdinand de Gramont)

by Ferdinand de Gramont

Sonnet.—THE PRESENT AGE.

LE COMTE F. DE GRAMONT.

Vile Sloth and greedy Self-love hunt as game
Each noble Virtue honoured in the past,
Man grovels in a cesspool dim and vast,
And hides not now, but blazons out his shame.
So well proscribed is the celestial flame,
That glory's antique hymn is hushed at last,
And bard and prophet with the idiots classed
Raise mockful laughter more than serious blame.
'Shall we on laurels feed, or dress in flowers?
Go, foolish poet, in thy garret dream!'
So speak the crowds, insatiate in all hours
For filthy gold. Well! Let them thus blaspheme.
Care not for them, but mustering thy powers,
O Soul well-born, pull hard against the stream.