True Greatness
The fairest action of our human life
Is scorning to revenge an injury:
For who forgives without a further strife
His adversary’s heart to him doth tie:
And ’tis a firmer conquest truly said
To win the heart, than overthrow the head.
If we a worthy enemy do find,
To yield to worth, it must be nobly done:—
But if of baser metal be his mind,
In base revenge there is no honor won.
Who would a worthy courage overthrow?
And who would wrestle with a worthless foe?
We say our hearts are great, and cannot yield;
Because they cannot yield, it proves them poor:
Great hearts are task’d beyond their power but seld:
The weakest lion will the loudest roar.
Truth’s school for certain does this same allow,
High-heartedness doth sometimes teach to bow.
—Lady E. Carew