Chapter 12

Better to smell the violet cool, than sip the glowing wine;Better to hark a hidden brook, than watch a diamond shine.Better the love of a gentle heart, than beauty's favor proud;Better the rose's living seed, than roses in a crowd.Better to love in loneliness, than to bask in love all day;Better the fountain in the heart, than the fountain by the way.Better be fed by a mother's hand, than eat alone at will;Better to trust in God, than say: "My goods my storehouse fill."Better to be a little wise, than in knowledge to abound;Better to teach a child, than toil to fill perfection's round.Better to sit at a master's feet, than thrill a listening State;Better suspect that thou art proud, than be sure that thou art great.Better to walk the real unseen, than watch the hour's event;Better the "Well done!" at the last, than the air with shouting rent.Better to have a quiet grief, than a hurrying delight;Better the twilight of the dawn, than the noonday burning bright.Better a death when work is done, than earth's most favored birth;Better a child in God's great house, than the king of all the earth.

Better to smell the violet cool, than sip the glowing wine;Better to hark a hidden brook, than watch a diamond shine.

Better the love of a gentle heart, than beauty's favor proud;Better the rose's living seed, than roses in a crowd.

Better to love in loneliness, than to bask in love all day;Better the fountain in the heart, than the fountain by the way.

Better be fed by a mother's hand, than eat alone at will;Better to trust in God, than say: "My goods my storehouse fill."

Better to be a little wise, than in knowledge to abound;Better to teach a child, than toil to fill perfection's round.

Better to sit at a master's feet, than thrill a listening State;Better suspect that thou art proud, than be sure that thou art great.

Better to walk the real unseen, than watch the hour's event;Better the "Well done!" at the last, than the air with shouting rent.

Better to have a quiet grief, than a hurrying delight;Better the twilight of the dawn, than the noonday burning bright.

Better a death when work is done, than earth's most favored birth;Better a child in God's great house, than the king of all the earth.


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