It is the rarest boon that man doth give to man;
It is the first perfection of our nature;
It is the brightest attribute of heav'n:
Without it man should rank beneath the brute;
And with it—he is little lower than angel.
The generous mite of penury is pity;
Nay, ev'n a look.—
Not so the heartless pittance of the affluent,
That is hypocrisy. If you pity,
Your heart is liberal to forgive,