Yet there is a meanness of spirit, that is fair in the eyes of most men, Yea, and seemeth fair unto itself, loving to be thought Humility. Its choler is not roused by insolence, neither do injuries disturb it: Honest indignation is strange unto its breast, and just reproof unto its lip. It shrinketh, looking fearfully on men, fawning at the feet of the great; The breath of calumny is sweet unto its ear, and it courteth the rod of persecution. But what! art thou not a man, deputed chief of the creation? Art thou not a soldier of the right, militant for God and good? Shall virtue and truth be degraded, because thou art too base to uphold them? Or Goliath be bolder in blaspheming for want of a David in the camp? I say not, avenge injuries; for the ministry of vengeance is not thine: But wherefore rebuke not a liar? wherefore do dishonour to thyself? Wherefore let the evil triumph, when the just and the right are on thy side? Such Humility is abject, it lacketh the life of sensibility, And that resignation is but mock, where the burden is not felt: Suspect thyself and thy meekness: thou art mean and indifferent to sin; And the heart that should grieve and forgive, is case-hardened and forgetteth. Humility mainly becometh the converse of man with his Maker, But oftentimes it seemeth out of place in the intercourse of man with man: Yea, it is the cringer to his equal, that is chiefly seen bold to his God, While the martyr, whom a world cannot brow-beat, is humble as a child before Him. Render unto all men their due, but remember thou also art a man, And cheat not thyself of the reverence which is owing to thy reasonable being. Be courteous, and listen, and learn: but teach and answer if thou canst: Serve thee of thy neighbour's wisdom, but be not enslaved as to a master. Where thou perceivest knowledge, bend the ear of attention and respect; But yield not further to the teaching, than as thy mind is warranted by reasons. Better is an obstinate disputant, that yieldeth inch by inch, Than the shallow traitor to himself, who surrendereth to half an argument.