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THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
There lived a man in days long past, The happiest of his kind, Who kept unstained from first to last His pure and lucid mind.
Not of, though in the world he dwelt, Eventless was his life; No greed, no lust, no hate he felt, With no man had he strife.
Ambition, wealth, and beauty sought To tempt him with their wares, But on his equal temper wrought In vain with all their snares.
They offered him a statesman's place, He held it for a time, But left it rather than abase His soul with statecraft's slime.
Reason was valued not, he found, By people or by prince, Who on his wisest measures frowned And at plain truth did wince.
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