NATURE'S GENTLEMAN.
He wisely yields his passions up to Reason's firm control;
His pleasures are of crimeless kind, and never taint the soul.
He may be thrown among the gay and reckless sons of life;
But will not love the revel scene, nor head the brawling strife.
He wounds no breast with jeer or jest, yet bears no honey'd tongue;
He's social with the grey-hair'd one, and merry with the young;
He gravely shares the council speech, or joins the rustic game;
And shines as Nature's gentleman in every place the same.
His pleasures are of crimeless kind, and never taint the soul.
He may be thrown among the gay and reckless sons of life;
But will not love the revel scene, nor head the brawling strife.
He wounds no breast with jeer or jest, yet bears no honey'd tongue;
He's social with the grey-hair'd one, and merry with the young;
He gravely shares the council speech, or joins the rustic game;
And shines as Nature's gentleman in every place the same.
No haughty gesture marks his gait, no pompous tone his word;
No studied attitude is seen, no ribald gossip heard;
He'll suit his bearing to the hour—laugh, listen, learn or teach;
With joyous freedom in his mirth, and candour in his speech.
He worships God with inward zeal, and serves him in each deed;
He would not blame another's faith, nor have one martyr bleed:
Justice and Mercy form his code; he puts his trust in Heaven;
His prayer is, "If the heart mean well, may all else be forgiven!"
No studied attitude is seen, no ribald gossip heard;
He'll suit his bearing to the hour—laugh, listen, learn or teach;
With joyous freedom in his mirth, and candour in his speech.
He worships God with inward zeal, and serves him in each deed;
He would not blame another's faith, nor have one martyr bleed:
Justice and Mercy form his code; he puts his trust in Heaven;
His prayer is, "If the heart mean well, may all else be forgiven!"
Though few of such may gem the earth, yet such rare gems there are,
Each shining in his hallow'd sphere as Virtue's polar star.
Though human hearts too oft are found all gross, corrupt, and dark,
Yet, yet, some bosoms breathe and burn,—lit by Promethean spark:
There are some spirits nobly just, unwarp'd by pelf or pride,
Great in the calm, but greater still when dash'd by adverse tide—
They hold the rank no king can give, no station can disgrace:
Nature puts forth her Gentleman, and monarchs must give place.
Each shining in his hallow'd sphere as Virtue's polar star.
Though human hearts too oft are found all gross, corrupt, and dark,
Yet, yet, some bosoms breathe and burn,—lit by Promethean spark:
There are some spirits nobly just, unwarp'd by pelf or pride,
Great in the calm, but greater still when dash'd by adverse tide—
They hold the rank no king can give, no station can disgrace:
Nature puts forth her Gentleman, and monarchs must give place.
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