Poems (Sharpless)/The Advice of Chaucer-Modernized
THE ADVICE OF CHAUCER—MODERNIZED
Fly thou the crowd, and live in honesty;Hoarding breeds hate; who climbs must risk a fall;Ambition feedeth envy; do thou beContent with what is thine, though it be small,Not craving all thou seest; wealth dazzles all;Watch thy own steps, thou so alert to seeAnother's slip, and truth shall make thee free.
Strive not in vain the crooked to make straight;But trust to Time that bringeth round the right;There is much peace for him who learns to wait,Nor idly rages 'gainst o'erwhelming might,But trusts the law that justly doth requite.Judge thou thy deeds as others';—thou shalt seeBeyond all doubt the truth shall make thee free.
Receive with cheerfulness whate'er is sent;—Who wrestles with the world must catch a fall;This earthly life for no long home is meant:—'Tis but a pilgrimage;—forth, beast, from stall;Look up on high and thank the Lord of all:—Conquer thyself, thy conscience ruling thee,And never doubt that truth shall make thee free.