The Silken Tassel/The Riddle of Life

​
The Riddle of Life
Duty feels but it can move not,
Love appeals but it can prove not;
Heart entreats but Reason hears not,
Hope doth tremble but Truth fears not.

Life has Freedom, Life has Splendour,
Life has all the visions tender;
Yet in all its circled pleasure
It must keep its central measure.

Joy is full of wingèd glory,
Like a fairy’s dreamland story;
And that proud and giddy Power
Is like Noon’s most dazzling hour.

Duty feels when Wisdom lights it,
Love approves when Suffering rights it;
Reason hears when Heart is selfless,
Truth succeeds though Hope be helpless.

​
Life is Virtue, Life is Duty,
Life is but one painful beauty:
Then in all your circled pleasure
Keep for aye its central measure!

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.