By secular sign-reading to have bred An instinct when winds, floods, rain they would have, To warn of weather coming that they crave. Thus, ears attest the ways that have been found By lower races to converse by sound, Strange if Man, Nature’s first-born, built not speech On sounds for meanings diverse, one for each! Fond fable that one knew all names, and then Distributed them to dumb fellow men! Before common use, by what means learned he Articulate speech had utility? How urge men as good as deaf—so, the rule, Sulky—for no clear gain, to go to school, When Nature had already, by design For them, through combining powers, to reign, Giv’n versatility of voice and tongue To plan, to act, and drive the world along! Strength in union; this the great, first law, From which, and its self-sacrifice, men draw Sovereignty in Nature; thence learned to bow To chiefs in mind and heart, who taught them how To change forms of living and life for new. From acceptance of son after sire grew Kingship and kings; with cities in due course, And citadels as centres of armed force, Or royal refuges in civil strife; For complex soon became national life. Wealth counted first by cattle, and by land; And the State’s part was at the King’s command. By his own standard he apportioned it, For strength or beauty; sometimes mother-wit. Laws of inheritance grew fixed; and great Landowners vied with kings to rule a State. Gold came; race, steel, charm, acres ceased to reign; All gave gold way, and followed in its train. An owner used it to earn rule and fame; Less for themselves—not e’en so high his aim— Than that he sought to hide some stain of earth. None blushed to rank by accidents of birth; But rank through money! Rich men would disguise That flaw by vouching aught else for their rise, They wished wealth for enjoyment, yet to shun Odium for it behind honours won. Vain! each peak climbed breeds on its own account Envy with traps to trip you as you mount; The more, and loftier, surer the flash Of a bolt, and for you, amid the crash, To find yourself contemptuously hurled Into the foul pit of the Underworld. Flee gold and power, both; neither is one With happiness; or sheds bliss on a throne. Few who have touched the goal aver the good Equals the price they paid in sweat of blood. Better it satisfies to be of those That obey than to sway realms, and crush foes. Hear Reason, and know wealth, absolute, whole, Is so to live that means disturb not soul. You wish to forbid Penury your door? Then adjust your house-keeping to your store. Ambition exalts to abase; your eyes, If they see, will teach you its lures are lies.