STANZAS TO THE YOUNG.
No more she's heard to cry,
"Where, Duncan, art thou roving?"
The bridal day is past,
Their hearts are blest in loving.
"Where, Duncan, art thou roving?"
The bridal day is past,
Their hearts are blest in loving.
STANZAS TO THE YOUNG.
Long have the wisest lips confess'd
That minstrel ones are far from wrong
Who "point a moral" in a jest,
Or yield a sermon in a song.
That minstrel ones are far from wrong
Who "point a moral" in a jest,
Or yield a sermon in a song.
So be it! Listen ye who will,
And though my harp be roughly strung,
Yet never shall its lightest thrill
Offend the old or taint the young.
And though my harp be roughly strung,
Yet never shall its lightest thrill
Offend the old or taint the young.
Mark me! I ne'er presume to teach
The man of wisdom, grey and sage;
'Tis to the growing I would preach
From moral text and simple page.
The man of wisdom, grey and sage;
'Tis to the growing I would preach
From moral text and simple page.
First, I would bid thee cherish Truth.
As leading star in Virtue's train;
Folly may pass, nor tarnish youth,
But Falsehood leaves a poison stain.
As leading star in Virtue's train;
Folly may pass, nor tarnish youth,
But Falsehood leaves a poison stain.
Keep watch, nor let the burning tide
Of Impulse break from all control;
The best of hearts needs pilot-guide
To steer it clear from Error's shoal.
Of Impulse break from all control;
The best of hearts needs pilot-guide
To steer it clear from Error's shoal.
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