The blind at an easel, the palsied with a graver, the halt making for the goal, The deaf ear tuning psaltery, the stammerer discoursing eloquence,-- What wonder if all fail? the shaft flieth wide of the mark Alike if itself be crooked, or the bow be strung awry; And the mind which were excellent in one way, but foolishly toileth in another, What is it but an ill-strung bow, and its aim a crooked arrow? By knowledge of self, thou provest thy powers: put not the racer to the plough, Nor goad the toilsome ox to wager his slowness with the fleet: Consider thy failings, heed thy propensities, search out thy latent virtues, Analyze the doubtful, cultivate the good, and crush the head of evil; So shalt thou catch with quick hand the golden ball of opportunity, The warrior armed shall be ready for the fray, beside his bridled steed; Thou shall ward off special harms, and have the sway of circumstance, And turn to thy special good the common current of events; Choosing from the wardrobe of the world, thou shalt suitably clothe thy spirit, Nor thrust the white hand of peace into the gauntlet of defiance: The shepherd shall go with a staff, and conquer by sling and stone; The soldier shall let alone the distaff, and the scribe lay down the sword; The man unlearned shall keep silence, and earn one attribute of wisdom, The sage be sparing of his lessons before unhearing ears: Calm shalt thou be, as a lion in repose, conscious of passive strength, And the shock that splitteth the globe, shall not unthrone thy self-possession.