VIRTUE.Hewas a sage old man who said,While in the public way he stood,Virtue is best of all, becauseWithout it there is nothing good.He was no stoic who thus spokeA word so practical and true,Nor sophist that would grandly sayWhat he would ne'er attempt to do:But one of those wise heathen menWho Reason followed as a guide,And by it he was learned a truthSo humbling to mere human pride.Yet even to him, with all the lorePhilosophy amassed of old,Was the full meaning all unknownOf what unaided Reason told.A wiser man than he hath said,By God's own spirit taught the same,That wisdom is the chiefest thingDeserving of man's fervent aim.Wisdom and virtue both are one,And only are attained arightIn their whole fulness and intent,When sought in Revelation's light.By it the sage old heathen's wordIn all its breadth is understood;Wisdom is best of all, he said,Without it there is nothing good.(11)
Hewas a sage old man who said,While in the public way he stood,Virtue is best of all, becauseWithout it there is nothing good.He was no stoic who thus spokeA word so practical and true,Nor sophist that would grandly sayWhat he would ne'er attempt to do:But one of those wise heathen menWho Reason followed as a guide,And by it he was learned a truthSo humbling to mere human pride.Yet even to him, with all the lorePhilosophy amassed of old,Was the full meaning all unknownOf what unaided Reason told.A wiser man than he hath said,By God's own spirit taught the same,That wisdom is the chiefest thingDeserving of man's fervent aim.Wisdom and virtue both are one,And only are attained arightIn their whole fulness and intent,When sought in Revelation's light.By it the sage old heathen's wordIn all its breadth is understood;Wisdom is best of all, he said,Without it there is nothing good.(11)
Hewas a sage old man who said,While in the public way he stood,Virtue is best of all, becauseWithout it there is nothing good.He was no stoic who thus spokeA word so practical and true,Nor sophist that would grandly sayWhat he would ne'er attempt to do:But one of those wise heathen menWho Reason followed as a guide,And by it he was learned a truthSo humbling to mere human pride.Yet even to him, with all the lorePhilosophy amassed of old,Was the full meaning all unknownOf what unaided Reason told.A wiser man than he hath said,By God's own spirit taught the same,That wisdom is the chiefest thingDeserving of man's fervent aim.Wisdom and virtue both are one,And only are attained arightIn their whole fulness and intent,When sought in Revelation's light.By it the sage old heathen's wordIn all its breadth is understood;Wisdom is best of all, he said,Without it there is nothing good.(11)
Hewas a sage old man who said,While in the public way he stood,Virtue is best of all, becauseWithout it there is nothing good.
Hewas a sage old man who said,
While in the public way he stood,
Virtue is best of all, because
Without it there is nothing good.
He was no stoic who thus spokeA word so practical and true,Nor sophist that would grandly sayWhat he would ne'er attempt to do:
He was no stoic who thus spoke
A word so practical and true,
Nor sophist that would grandly say
What he would ne'er attempt to do:
But one of those wise heathen menWho Reason followed as a guide,And by it he was learned a truthSo humbling to mere human pride.
But one of those wise heathen men
Who Reason followed as a guide,
And by it he was learned a truth
So humbling to mere human pride.
Yet even to him, with all the lorePhilosophy amassed of old,Was the full meaning all unknownOf what unaided Reason told.
Yet even to him, with all the lore
Philosophy amassed of old,
Was the full meaning all unknown
Of what unaided Reason told.
A wiser man than he hath said,By God's own spirit taught the same,That wisdom is the chiefest thingDeserving of man's fervent aim.
A wiser man than he hath said,
By God's own spirit taught the same,
That wisdom is the chiefest thing
Deserving of man's fervent aim.
Wisdom and virtue both are one,And only are attained arightIn their whole fulness and intent,When sought in Revelation's light.
Wisdom and virtue both are one,
And only are attained aright
In their whole fulness and intent,
When sought in Revelation's light.
By it the sage old heathen's wordIn all its breadth is understood;Wisdom is best of all, he said,Without it there is nothing good.(11)
By it the sage old heathen's word
In all its breadth is understood;
Wisdom is best of all, he said,
Without it there is nothing good.(11)