V
“Therefore, that ye may merit
Men’s praise when your heads are gray,
Cling to the good ye have gathered
From my teaching that ends to-day.
Ye have learned many true sayings
And many wise maxims heard,
For some ye know the reason,
And for some ye must take my word.
But, though ye forget the others,
These two hold firm and clear:
The first is—‘He that would win must work,’
The second—‘Thou shalt not fear!’
For the vices of a strong man
Are pardoned in the end;
But he that is born a coward
Hath neither foe nor friend!
VI
“Be tender, and quick to pity
At the sight of another’s wrong,
Humble before a weaker,
Cringing not to the strong.
Paying each service twofold,
Nor counting the debt clear then;
Keeping your faith with women,
Speaking the truth to men.
VII
“High in the purple mountains,
Where the world’s strife cannot come,
Ringed by the iron cordon
Of the hills that guard my home,
I gather my sons about me
And teach them at my knee,
And when they have learned their lesson,
My sons go forth from me.
Over the world they wander,
In the sunshine and wind and storm,
But I sit here in the quiet room
And keep the hearthstone warm;
Watching and listening and waiting
For their footsteps at the door,
Till one by one as the years go by
My sons come home once more.