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The Poems of Heine

by Heinrich Heine

151 of 204 · Contents · Download EPUB

5 Rascality

Rich people only can be won
  By open, barefaced flattery;
Money is flat, my worthy son,
  And needs must flatly flatter’d be.

The box of incense swing with zeal
  Before all worshipp’d golden calves:
In dust and mire with meekness kneel,
  And, above all, ne’er praise by halves.

The price of bread this year is high,
  Fine words we lavish all in vain;
Mecænas’ dog to praise, then, try,
  And earn a bellyful again.

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